Artist Elliot Arkin has created a white marble statue of contemporary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei flipping the bird.
Though the hand gesture alludes to one specific vulgar expression, the connotation behind it has a much deeper political reference than simply trying to be offensive. The statue pays homage to Mr.Weiwei's political activism and ongoing support for human rights and democracy. Most recently, this was showcased in Weiwei's series where he took pictures showing himself giving the middle finger to monuments such as the White House and Tiananmen Square. The piece entitled '#1/1,000,000,000,'represents the population of China. In true Weiwei fashion, a portion of the proceeds of this statue will be given to Amnesty International.
The thought-provoking statue by Elliot Arkin is available for $200 and is available from Exhibition A.
Offensive Political Sculptures
Elliot Arkin Makes a Political Statement With his Profane Statue
Trend Themes
1. Political Provocation Art - Artists are using provocative political sculptures as a form of activism and are creating a new art market.
2. Activist Art - The use of art as a tool for political activism is growing, creating opportunities for artists to contribute to social change.
3. Contemporary Homage Art - Artists are using contemporary techniques to pay homage to political activists and empower their message.
Industry Implications
1. Art Market - The growing demand for provocative political sculptures creates a new segment in the art market.
2. Political Activism Organizations - Political activism organizations can collaborate with artists to create innovative campaigns that catch attention and bring social justice issues to the forefront.
3. Art Education - Teaching political art as a form of activism within the traditional notions of art history and curation will require new educational models and disrupt current discourse.