Luxury / article
Ai Weiwei's 'Button Up!' Confronts Colonialism and Migration in Manchester
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s new exhibition at Manchester’s Aviva Studios critiques colonial history, warfare, and the refugee crisis through monumental installations made from buttons, Lego, and an inflatable dinghy.
The centerpiece, 'Law of the Journey,' is a 160-foot inflatable dinghy packed with faceless figures, symbolizing the ongoing global migrant crisis. Nearby, 'History of Bombs,' a 25-meter wall of weapons of mass destruction built from Lego bricks, serves as a stark reminder of systemic warfare.
Upon entry, visitors encounter the 'Eight-Nation Alliance Flags,' stretching across the ceiling. Constructed from millions of salvaged buttons from an English factory, they represent the eight empires that invaded Qing-dynasty China in 1900.
Also on display is the 'Wang Family Ancestral Hall,' a reassembled Ming dynasty temple saved from ruin, placed near a towering black glass chandelier fashioned from skeletons. Together, these works underscore the exhibition’s focus on lost heritage and the enduring scars of history.
Ai Weiwei has described the show as a 'total environment,' aiming to bring the darkest corners of human history into the spotlight. The exhibition runs for just over two months at the Manchester venue.