Ai Weiwei

Middle Finger in Black

€900

Artwork

Edition of 100

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Middle Finger in Black belongs to a trio of artworks by Ai Weiwei which combine innovative printing methods with pillars of freedom upheld throughout his practice.

A radial composition references the obscene gesture – a raised middle finger – which defines Ai’s seminal series, Study of Perspective. Begun in 1995, the series asserts the importance of our collective freedom to form, hold and express individual beliefs. For the artist, the power of a simple gesture like this is that anyone can make it. The edition is printed on a silkscreen press and finished with an intricate layer of white gold leaf, applied by hand to dazzling effect.

In a new juncture for Study of Perspective, we’ve also collaborated with Ai to make his middle finger available to all – inviting any and everyone to share their own perspective on power. Add yours to the archive now.

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

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06:12

Behind the scenes

artist Ai Weiwei taking a selfie in a bathroom mirror

Ai Weiwei27 collaborationsAi 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.’

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