00:18

square yellow and white print on a mirrored substrate

Ai Weiwei

Human Flow

€1,250

Edition of 100

Sold out

Love this work?

Subscribe to get notified about any cancellations and early access on next releases.

Human Flow belongs to a trio of artworks by Ai Weiwei which combine innovative printing methods with pillars of freedom upheld throughout his practice.

Figures in motion, laden with bags, move in an endless circle at the centre of the print. Razor wire surrounds them. CCTV cameras look on ominously. Ai reflects on the importance of a person’s liberty to move, and the forms of persecution that may lead them to do so. Opaque layers of white and yellow ink are applied to a mirrored aluminium substrate – subsuming onlooker and artwork in the reflective surface.

“If there is one refugee, we are all refugees. It's not that you're potentially a refugee, or potentially involved. We are involved. We are refugees. This idea is not easy to establish, so I tried to make it beautiful. You can see the image, but you can also see yourself in the reflection.”

Go behind the scenes at Make-Ready in London as Ai reflects on the profundities of printmaking, and its lineage within his practice.

Go deeper

06:12

Behind the scenes

Ai Weiwei

22 collaborations

Ai Weiwei is unafraid to speak truth to power. He’s one of the most famous living artists today – a testament to the breadth and vision of his practice. Effortlessly, he moves between different media, from sculpture and architecture to performance and documentary film. His work is often monumental in scale and is driven by a hunger for truth and justice. In 2008, for example, Ai spent many months collecting the names of over 5000 children who lost their lives in the Sichuan earthquake. This unflinching dedication to human rights saw him detained by the Chinese government for 81 days in 2011, accused of ‘subverting the state.’

Who else should know about this work?

Help us spread the word

Reviews from Avant collectors

Thanks again for great collaboration and looking forward to new projects and pieces for my collection.
Review of Descendent - Lucid Dreamer
very impressed with the quality of packaging and the high level finish of thr framing & artwork! look forward to pucharing more pieces in the future.
Review of Prismatic Head Composition
It's my 1st art piece and I love it! I wish I got it framed.
Review of Guardian
Love the quality of the build
Review of Ugly Bastard
Overall, a very satisfying and educational experience! I greatly appreciate the various updates during the production and shipping processes. Thank you very much.
Review of Actual Size
Excellent experience overall. Thank you for an easy transaction.
Review of Everyone is a dragon
The work is absolutely stunning! The embossing, thick paper, it impressively captures Condo’s oil gestures and overall vibrance…
Review of Lost in Time
I'm pleasantly surprised by the quality and efficiency of your service. I've purchased art from various sources before, and some are still keeping me waiting. Consequently, I'm now a big admirer of your service. Thank you!
Review of Guardian

Discover more print editions on Avant Arte

See all

Available

Patrick QuarmTwilight (Blue)€3,500

Available

Wang Zhibo15℃, Nationalistic Optimism by the Sea€800

Draw

Luc TuymansBell Boy€1,500

Closing on 31 March

Draw

Grant Riven YunHigh Fly Over the Valley€3,500

Closing on 09 April