Until May 18, 2025, The MUSAC, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Castilla y León, is hosting an extensive exhibition that brings together large installations and a selection of works that combine craftsmanship with conceptual creativity, created over the last two decades by Ai Weiwei, artist and activist.

"Ai Weiwei: Don Quixote" is a set of works with which the artist challenges traditional painting and sculpture. Contained in an immersive way throughout the museum's galleries, the large-format works reimagine some universal symbols while measuring our existence in relation to political, natural and social forces.

Comprising three groups of works in different formats, the exhibition hosted by the artist Ai Weiwei at MUSAC, which has already been enjoyed by museum visitors, addresses, beyond concerns about form or protest, universal themes of humanity and community while publicly speaking out on issues that he considers important.

From interpretations of masterpieces from the history of art made from building blocks that challenge traditional two-dimensional painting, to massive chandeliers made of Murano glass and cast steel, and sculptural works made of bamboo, the artist gives voice to themes such as the refugee crisis and the relationship between human beings and nature. This example of Ai Weiwei's ability to fuse art and political activism can be found at the Leonese museum.

More information

Label
Exhibition
Text

Ai Weiwei: Don Quixote.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Artist
Text

Ai Weiwei.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Curator
Text

Álvaro Rodríguez Fominaya.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Dates
Text

09.11.2024 > 18.05.2025.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Location
Text

MUSAC. Avda. Reyes Leoneses, 24, León, Spain.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.

Ai Weiwei is a chinese conceptual artist, also works as an architect, photographer, curator and globally recognised human rights activist. Born in 1957 in Beijing, he began his training at Beijing Film Academy and later continued at the Parsons School of Design in New York City.

His work has been exhibited around the world with solo exhibitions at Stiftung DKM, Duisburg (2010); Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2009); Haus der Kunst, Munich (2009); Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Cambelltown Arts Center, Sydney (2008); and the Groninger Museum, Groningen (2008), and participation in the 48th Venice Biennale in Italy (1999, 2008, 2010); Guangzhou Triennale in China (2002, 2005), Busan Biennial in Korea (2006), Documenta 12 in Germany (2007), and the 29th Sao Paulo Biennial in Brazil (2010). In October 2010, Ai Weiwei's "Sunflower Seeds" was installed in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall, London. Ai Weiwei participated in the Serpentine Gallery's China Power Station exhibition in 2006, and the Serpentine Gallery Map Marathon in 2010.

The last solo exhibitions included Ai Weiwei in the Chapel, on view at Yorkshire Sculpture Park through November 2, 2014; Evidence at the Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, 2014; and Ai Weiwei: According to What?, which was organized by the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, in 2009, and traveled to North American venues in 2013–14. Ai collaborated with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the “bird’s nest” stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and on the Serpentine Gallery, 2012 London. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent from the Human Rights Foundation in 2012.


Read more
Published on: November 17, 2024
Cite: "Creativity and invention. Opening “Ai Weiwei: Don Quixote” exhibition at MUSAC" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/creativity-and-invention-opening-ai-weiwei-don-quixote-exhibition-musac> ISSN 1139-6415
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...