AI WEIWEI, ABRIDGED IN ISTANBUL
words & photos by irem
Looking back at Ai Weiwei's first solo exhibition in Istanbul.
That was an unexpectedly warm and sunny day in Istanbul, maybe the last one of the year. Prepared myself to a very cold morning and now feeling unnecessarily hot –especially after much struggle of finding a parking place for the car– I walked towards to the infamous Atlı Köşk, also known as Sakıp Sabancı Museum, where the best exhibitions in town are hosted. “This time is extra special”, so I thought as my eyes met the Ai Wei Wei’s in the “I am watching you as well” poster at the entrance.
Istanbulites were pouring to the mansion-turned-museum. Were they really curious about the artwork or was it because of the Instagram stories from the exhibition posted by an infamous television personality? Whatever the reason –most likely the latter, considering the amount of selfies were taken– the museum was packed that day. It wasn’t surprising when the museum announced that the exhibition was extended for almost two more months, people must have really loved it, after all
Not trying to be a snob, but I just got genuinely curious about how Ai Weiwei felt about the top consumers observing his works which are criticizing consumerism. Were they the target audience? Or was the whole exhibition the real finger? I also see a sharp irony in his renowned sunflower seeds installation sponsored by Unilever, whose tea plantations don’t provide fair wages for their local tea workers who work and live in not-so-nice conditions.
"WERE THEY THE TARGET AUDIENCE?"
While I was looking at those famous sunflower seeds carefully stacked in a corner and watching a video clip from the first time they were being spread across the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, I felt a little disappointed for not being able to walk over them like they did. I kept murmured to myself, “Tate Modern also banned walking over them because of health safety reasons.” I may sound extremely contemptuous about Ai Weiwei and the exhibition now, but in fact, it is the contrary. I loved everything about it so much that I wanted to see and experience more of his ingenious works.
"...porcelaıns depıctıng the refugee crısıs laıd ın front of the people who cannot stand seeıng them..."
Being cynical by nature, I couldn’t help myself both looking at the artworks and the visitors. Judging, yes I did that. Museums are strangely one of the best places to judge people. Especially, in the gallery where the porcelains depicting the refugee crisis were laid in front of the people who cannot stand seeing them on the streets. "Maybe," I thought, "he will get through to them."
Conceptual art usually lefts you puzzled, feeling like you’ve been missing something. Ai Weiwei, though, is the most straightforward artist of his genre. His art is complex, immersively emotional, and also some-what minimal. Be it the elegant anger of him dropping a 2000-year old Han Dynasty Urn, or making people –even though for a short period of time– walk through and crush thousands of beautifully handmade porcelain sunflower seeds, his approach to the modern art through traditions and his way of trying to reason with the world is simply beautiful. Istanbul needs more of him and his art.
On a happy note, the exhibition has been extended one more time until the 15th of April.