A Message from the Chief Business Officer: Exhibition Program Update for Ai Weiwei, Please Read

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Dear Colleagues,

What is happening?

  • As we get closer to the exhibition opening of Ai Weiwei: According to What? on August 17, some exciting initiatives are underway.
  • The first one takes place today, June 18, when we will be officially unveiling Ai Weiwei’s monumental sculpture series Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads in the reflecting pool of Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, just outside of City Hall.
  • This incredible piece of public sculpture – 12 spectacular bronze animal heads representing the traditional figures of the Chinese Zodiac – is a living testament to Ai Weiwei’s belief that art is for everyone.
  • By installing it in Nathan Phillips Square, we are offering Torontonians a chance to preview Ai’s talent. The installation was made possible by the City of Toronto and is on display until Sept. 22, 2013.

 What are we doing differently to engage our visitors? 

With this exhibition, we will be engaging our visitors in new ways so that they can learn more about the artist and his cause – freedom of expression – even before the exhibition comes to the AGO:

 

April 2013: Early installation of Snake Ceiling, 2009

  • Snake Ceiling was installed in the Fleck Gallery, second level, in April to develop advance awareness, understanding and engagement in the exhibition as well as provide a means for spreading the artist’s message.
  • This powerful work came out of the aftermath of a massive earthquake in 2008 in Sichuan that took the lives of approximately 90,000 people, including more than 5,000 schoolchildren who were killed when their poorly constructed schools collapsed.
  • If you have not had a chance to view Snake Ceiling, take a moment to stop by the Fleck Gallery at the top of the staircase in front of Walker Court.

August 18, 2013: “Say Their Names, Remember”

  • On Sunday, August 18, the AGO will host a live reading of the names of the schoolchildren who lost their lives in the earthquake, as commemorated by Ai Weiwei in his audio artwork entitled Remembrance.
  • We are inviting everyone who speaks a Chinese dialect to register to participate in this community art performance.
  • We want to engage hundreds of participants in this powerful performance, which is called “Say their Names, Remember” and directed by Toronto artist Gein Wong.
  • Please help us spread the word (see attached invitation – Chinese Traditional and Chinese Simplified versions are also available).
  • Individuals interested in participating may register on-line at http://www.ago.net/aiweiwei-names.
  • For more information about “Say their Names, Remember” please contact Bev Carret at ext. 477 or [email protected]
  • More information is also available here: AWW-reading of the names handout

Is there an update to the online petition initiative to get a Canadian passport for Ai Weiwei?

  • As you may be aware, Ai Weiwei’s passport was taken from him by the Chinese government for challenging limits on freedom of expression and asking questions about accountability – he was arrested and imprisoned on false charges, his blog was shut down, his studio destroyed, and he was subjected to physical and psychological torture He was released from prison but his passport has not been returned. His art can leave China, but he cannot.
  • The AGO offered to work with Ai Weiwei to help him obtain a Canadian passport. Mr. Ai feels he needs to stay in China and work through this challenge with the authorities there.
  • As a result, the initiative to launch a petition to get him a Canadian passport has been cancelled.  We will make every effort to help Mr. Ai travel to Toronto to see his work installed and have the opportunity to meet our visitors.

What about the honorary degree initiative?

  • To mark the impact Ai Weiwei has made globally through his art, the AGO will be nominating him to receive an honorary degree from the University of Toronto to raise awareness of the artist and the issues he champions.
  • If we are successful, his honorary degree would not be announced until after the exhibition is over, but we believe that this is an important way to honour him as an important artist.

 The exhibition runs from August 17 to October 27, 2013.

 

Sincerely,

Heather