Thursday, May 05, 2011

The Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei has a new outdoor exhibition on 5th and Central Park South

Caddy corner form the 5th Ave. Apple Store is Ai Weiwei's new sculpture with the Chinese Zodiac heads.  It is based on the heads from a famous Chinese Fountain, ransacked over about 150 years ago.  I will quote below, but I can't wait to go up and see it.
.
This is the same artist who did he Sunflower Seeds exhibit in London and helped with the design of Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium.  He is presently held by the Chinese Authorities for oblique support of a revolution (he twittered that Jasmine might smell wonderful and be overpowering - a reference to a call to people's "jasmine" revolution.

Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, the first major public art sculpture by celebrated contemporary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, makes its outdoor debut in New York at the historic Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza, the gateway to Central Park. Comprised of 12 monumental bronze animal heads, Circle of Animals/Zodiac Headswas inspired by the fabled fountain-clock of the Yuanming Yuan, an 18th-century imperial retreat just outside Beijing. Following its exhibition in New York City, the sculpture will be displayed around the world.