Ai Weiwei unveils his epic new Australian work: ‘90% of art is just garbage. Real art questions the existing order’
From his farm in Portugal, the acclaimed artist speaks about war, peace, the state of the world – and his 40 metre sculpture Mushrooms, on Sydney Harbour “It’s like a film set. Like it’s not real,” the bemused Uber driver says as we pass through a succession of silent rural villages washed with milky sunlight. He’s right: signs of human life are weirdly absent during our windy journey through the…
Ai Weiwei, the renowned contemporary artist, has unveiled his latest monumental work titled "90% of art is just garbage. Real art questions the existing order" in Australia. The monumental piece, which stands at an impressive 40 meters, is situated on Sydney Harbour. The artist, who currently resides on his secluded farm in Portugal, discussed the sculpture during a visit from a bemused Uber driver.
The driver, during a scenic drive through rural villages, remarked on the surreal nature of the surroundings, stating that "it's like a film set. Like it's not real."
The journey from Portugal to Australia was a significant one for Ai Weiwei. Upon arrival, he was met with a vast cathedral-like building, a replica of his former and controversially demolished studio in Shanghai. The interior of the building is grand, with timber columns dividing the space and high ceilings adorned with beams. Notably, there is no artwork displayed on the walls, nor any signs of artistic activity, creating an atmosphere of contemplation and introspection.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
