Ai Weiwei

Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing
Acquired by the present owner from the above

Netherlands, Amsterdam, Christie's non-selling exhibition; Amstelveen, Canvas International Art; Amsterdam, Artesia; Den Bosch, Vanderven & Vanderven Oriental Art; Utrecht, Mees Pierson Private Banking Office; Heerlen, DSM Head Office, East Asia Fine Arts Collections, 2007, 2008, 2013 (exhibition titles variable)

These works are all in good condition with occasional minor scuff marks and surface accretion throughout. For the pink, red and mint yellow vases, there are minor chips to the mouth and bodies which are inherent to the medium.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Coloured Vases (eight works) is one of Ai Weiwei’s most iconoclastic and representative works. The Godfather of Chinese conceptual art took common Stone Age clay vases as a point of departure, and added his own irreverent touch by remodeling the found objects in what he calls ‘Warhol colours’—cheerful saturated hues of red, pink and light blue. In covering the pots’ surfaces with new paint, what is underneath—not unlike history—is “no longer visible, but still there”. Ai always seems surprised when asked if the pots are truly objects of antiquity. The work plays on the questions of authenticity, appropriation and the nature of art and history itself, and is exemplary of Ai Weiwei’s pivotal oeuvre that boldly challenges critical contemporary issues in China and beyond. Fluent in mediums ranging from sculpture, installation, architecture, curating, photography, film and activism, Ai Weiwei’s wide-ranging, non-conformist and highly intelligent works have garnered him robust international acclaim. Regarding his works on ancient pots and vases, Ai Weiwei has said: “Always they are shown in the context of antiquity, and with great respect. But they can never get into the contemporary art museums, and contemporary art museums’ exhibiting conditions are much better than the conditions for exhibiting antiquities”. As a result of his seemingly disrespectful interventions, the pots are now eligible for display in prestigious contemporary art venues, giving rise to his comment: “Even disrespect itself is respect”.