tikichrisIn Pictures: Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads at Somerset House
Detained Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's first outdoor public sculpture in London has gone on display in the fountain courtyard of Somerset House. A series of 12 monumental bronze heads representing the 12 creatures of the Chinese zodiac, the works will be on show until 26 June.
Having attracted considerable media attention (our coverage here) for recently being detained by Chinese authorities for “obscene” art, Ai Weiwei's choice of subject matter for Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads seems to show Chinese culture and tradition in a positive and (at least on the surface) uncontroversial light. Still, such fearsome yet serene works that demand notice might be just a tad too much for the powers that be in his native country.
