# Mixed Media Prison Installations Ai Weiwei Creates '@Large' at Alcatraz Prison By Jamie Danielle Munro | Published 2014-09-30 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alcatraz-prison References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/ai-weiwei-alcatraz-large-09-29-2014/) & [aiweiwei](http://aiweiwei.com/) Alcatraz Prison is a well-known space where criminals used to go to live out their days behind bars, but now artist Ai Weiwei has transformed this space to be an area filled with artwork. He has set up a [mixed media installation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/your-psychoacoustic-light-ensemble) filled with [audio and visual pieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/psychoacoustic-light-ensemble) that are aimed at questioning this system of imprisonment. Interestingly, the artwork also relates to Ai Weiwei's own situation, since he is not allowed to presently leave Beijing. As such he had to create the pieces from his own art studio back home and have someone else set up the installation. China is extremely strict on its citizens speaking out against certain matters, but Ai Weiwei still expresses his views through his artwork, and rightly so. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/ai-weiwei-alcatraz-large-09-29-2014/), [aiweiwei](http://aiweiwei.com/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 44% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Mixed Media Installations:** Creating immersive installations using a combination of audio and visual elements. - **Questioning Systems:** Using art to challenge and explore the limitations of existing systems. - **Expressing Views Through Art:** Using artwork as a form of expression and activism. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art Galleries:** Opportunity for galleries to showcase immersive mixed media installations. - **Prison Reform:** Potential for using art to question and improve the prison system. - **Political Activism:** Using art as a tool for expressing political views and advocating for change. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Refugee-Informed Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-life-jackets-installation.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Provocative Banned Books Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banned-books-jail.md) - [Artful Meditative Sculptural Caves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drawing-on-space.md) - [Airport-Based Retro Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/twilight-of-the-warriors-walled-in.md) - [Poignant Multimedia Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multimedia-art-installation.md) - [Colossal AI Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-artwork.md) - [Monumental Air Installation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iwagumi-air-scape.md) - [Toronto Art Wine Colllabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-prisoner-wine-co-and-artist-justin-broadbent.md)