Ai Weiwei at the Tate Modern

Ai Weiwei was born in 1957 in Beijing, China, where he lives and works. He is the lastest artist to exhibit his work in the vast Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern in London. 

"The sculptural installation is made up of what appear to be millions of sunflower seed husks, apparently identical but actually unique. Although they look realistic, each seed is made out of porcelain. And far from being industrially produced, 'readymade' or found objects, they have been intricately hand-crafted by hundreds of skilled artisans."

"Poured into the interior of the Turbine Hall's vast industrial space, the seeds form a seemingly infinite landscape. The precious nature of the material, the effort of production and the narrative and personal content make this work a powerful commentary on the human condition."

The Unilever Series: Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds is curated by Juliet Bingham, Curator, Tate Modern, supported by Kasia Redzisz, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern.

Images and text taken from:
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/unileverseries2010/room1.shtm