Ai Weiwei exhibition at Alcatraz pays tribute to political prisoners

One of China’s most famous dissidents has appropriated the United States’ most famous former prison as a way to highlight the plight of activists held in detention. Starting Sept. 27, the former island penitentiary-turned-national park in San Francisco Bay will offer visitors the opportunity to view seven installations custom-designed by the artist and activist Ai Weiwei. Ai, for decades a critic of the Chinese government’s record on free speech and human rights, created the pieces without ever having visited Alcatraz. He has been banned from leaving China since his 81-day detention there in 2011. The exhibit, called @Large, reflects the sting and isolation of detention with works like the massive “Trace,” featuring portraits of 176 activists and political prisoners built entirely from 1.2 million Lego bricks.

The entire exhibition is a conversation around freedom of expression and human rights, and what is the concept of freedom. It’s his eloquent way of saying ‘We have not forgotten about you.

Cheryl Haines, founding executive director of the FOR-SITE Foundation, organizer of the exhibit

The artist is subject to travel restrictions and it is unclear when they will be lifted. When asked why Ai was not allowed to attend the event in San Francisco, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she does not understand “the relevant situation.” The Alcatraz exhibit expands on themes Ai, 57, had explored throughout his career as well as in an exhibit earlier this year in Berlin, which featured a reproduction of the white cell where he was held by Chinese authorities. In the latest work, the focus remains more on the experiences of other detainees.

Arts ai weiwei