Ai Weiwei TRACE

Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA
May 15–August 1, 2021

Ai Weiwei: Trace is organized by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Photos: Robert Wedemeyer

On view are eighty-three of the work’s original 176 portraits, each one hand-assembled from thousands of LEGO® bricks. First created in 2014, when the famed contemporary artist was under house arrest, the monumental display portrays activists, prisoners of conscience, and advocates of free speech from around the world.

Complementing the portraits is a striking wallpaper designed by Ai Weiwei entitled The Animal That Looks Like a Llama but Is Really an Alpaca. At first glance, the pattern looks merely decorative, but upon further inspection, you’ll discover hidden iconography like handcuffs and surveillance cameras. Look closely to find the alpacas—a mascot for freedom of expression in Chinese internet culture.

Mobile Guide—Explore the Skirball’s presentation of Ai Weiwei: Trace online. Available in both English and Spanish.