Saturday 15 January 2011

The Unilever Series: Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds

Video showing the process behind this mass production of a different kind...





Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds challenges our first impressions: what you see is not what you see, and what you see is not what it means. 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.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Patrick Barkham The Guardian,

Back from the dead

Not since the Victorians has taxidermy been so fashionable. The way things are going, no trendy wine bar or loft apartment will be complete without a stuffed poodle or horse. But why did dead animals stop being tacky? And what does it mean for endangered species? Patrick Barkham meets the men and women making corpses into art