ai weiwei recreates historic art with LEGOs at galleria continua

ai Weiwei rejects the binary in ‘Neither Nor’

Galleria Continua presents Neither Nor, a sprawling exhibition that explores the multifaceted career of Ai Weiwei, one of the most influential contemporary artists working today. The historic cinema-theatre space in San Gimignano has been transformed to showcase a selection of new works created with LEGO bricks alongside established pieces crafted from porcelain, wood, marble, bamboo, and various assemblages.

The exhibition’s title itself holds significance. Ai Weiwei criticizes the current trend of cultural extremes, where complex issues are reduced to black and white. He highlights the dangers of such binary thinking, citing historical periods like the Soviet purges and the Cultural Revolution in China where absolute truths led to human rights violations. Neither Nor emphasizes the importance of ambiguity, a grey space where diverse perspectives can flourish and debate is encouraged.

exhibition view, San Gimignano, 2024, courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua
all images © Ela Bialkowska, OKNO studio

Explorations with LEGOs showcased at galleria continua

The exhibition Neither Nor defies attempts to categorize artist Ai Weiwei. Sculptor, painter, filmmaker, architect — his artistic practice encompasses a vast array of mediums, drawing from art, personal life, and political activism. Deeply rooted in Chinese tradition, he playfully reinterprets motifs and materials, exposing the contradictions between the individual and the social order in the modern world.

The first floor of Galleria Continua’s space features works created entirely from LEGO bricks. For Ai Weiwei, these colorful blocks serve as a personal language, conveying stories about his life and childhood. He draws parallels between LEGOs and ancient mosaics, highlighting their shared ability to create complex images through individual units. He finds a connection between their modularity and his social media presence, where fragmented realities are constantly reshaped and shared.

exhibition view, San Gimignano, 2024, courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua

A Journey Through History, Reinterpreted

The exhibition takes viewers on a historical journey, beginning with the Renaissance. ‘Sleeping Venus with Coat Hanger’ reimagines Giorgione’s painting by juxtaposing the goddess of fertility with a coat hanger, a stark reminder of unsafe abortions before legalization. Similarly, ‘The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus in Untitled (After Rubens)’ employs LEGOs to restore vibrancy to Rubens’ masterpiece while adding a panda, a symbol of contemporary Chinese power.

Ai Weiwei’s artistic responses extend to current events as well. Seurat’s ‘Un dimanche après-midi à l’Île de la Grande Jatte’ is reinterpreted with the image of a refugee, a commentary on the French burkini ban. Van Gogh’s ‘The Sower’ is overlaid with the image of a locust invasion that devastated Pakistan in 2020.

The impersonal nature of LEGOs translates the Mona Lisa, here smeared with cake by an environmental activist, and the Last Supper, where Ai Weiwei replaces Judas. The exhibition continues with works addressing war, gas leaks, and the downing of a Chinese air balloon, highlighting urgent contemporary issues.

exhibition view, San Gimignano, 2024, courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua

The exhibition’s historical pieces include ‘Treasure Box’ (2014) which showcases intricate inlay designs, while ‘Marble Cube’ (2010) merges minimalist sculpture with traditional Chinese marble memorials. ‘Porcelain Cube’ (2009) reflects the Qinghua style of blue and white porcelain. The garden space features ‘Pick Up Stick’ (2006), a traditional game with roots in ancient China, and ‘Pillar’ (2006), massive porcelain vases pushing the boundaries of this revered material.

exhibition view, San Gimignano, 2024, courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua

‘Stools’ in the stalls area utilizes nearly 3,000 stools from various Chinese dynasties. Connected to form a vast wooden plane, these timeworn objects speak to the enduring nature of Chinese design. The exhibition concludes with ‘Huantou Guo’ (2015), a fantastical creature crafted from bamboo and silk. Inspired by ancient Chinese mythology, this large-scale kite sculpture exemplifies Ai Weiwei’s ability to bridge tradition with contemporary artistic expression.

exhibition view, San Gimignano, 2024, courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua

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Ai Weiwei, AI Weiwei in Pink, 2023, mattoncini giocattolo (LEGO), courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua

Ai Weiwei, Ai Weiwei Quadruplex, 2023, toy bricks (LEGO), courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua

Ai Weiwei, Untitled (St. George Slaying a Dragon), Ed. 1 + 1 AP, 2022, toy bricks (LEGO), courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua

Ai Weiwei, 'To keep a person ignorant is to place them in a cage.', 2023, set of 3, toy bricks (WOMA), courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio and Galleria Continua