Owl Houses, 2010
16 x 11 x 8 inches (each)
Commissioned by the For-Site Foundation for its upcoming Presidio Habitats exhibition (opening May 2010),
Ai Weiwei transformed a classical Chinese vessel form into a living environment for the Western screech owl,
a native bird of the western United States. Referencing the natural tree cavities the owl chooses
as its home,
the ten vessels have been individualized with handpainted blue and white designs adapted by the artist from
traditional Chinese patterns. These purposefully ornamental habitats foster a host of associations, from the
transmission and transformation of culture through trade, to San Francisco’s own Chinese heritage and Pacific
Rim orientation.
(roll over for different view) |
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