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Ai Weiwei — Coloured Pots
Ai Weiwei

Coloured Pots

Twelve ancient Neolithic vessels, thousands of years old, have been boldly coated in vivid industrial paint by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei. The work provocatively disrupts the reverence typically afforded to archaeological artifacts, obscuring their historical surfaces beneath layers of bright, contemporary color. This deliberate act of transformation raises unsettling questions about cultural heritage, value, and the tension between preservation and destruction.

Medium
painted neolithic vessels, in twelve parts

🔨 Auction Lot

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale

February 10, 2016

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About this work

Ai Weiwei, Coloured Pots

Twelve ancient Neolithic vessels, thousands of years old, have been boldly coated in vivid industrial paint by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei. The work provocatively disrupts the reverence typically afforded to archaeological artifacts, obscuring their historical surfaces beneath layers of bright, contemporary color. This deliberate act of transformation raises unsettling questions about cultural heritage, value, and the tension between preservation and destruction.

Medium
painted neolithic vessels, in twelve parts
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Cultural Commentary, Mixed Media Installation, Chinese Artist, Conceptual Art, Contemporary Art, Political Art, Ancient Artifacts, Neolithic Vessels

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Collected by

Sarah Greenspan