# Upcycled Furniture Installations Ai Weiwei’s Stacked Furniture Art Upcycles Old Wooden Stool By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2013-05-31 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/furniture-art References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/ai-weiwei-bang-installation-at-venice-art-biennale-2013/) & [deutscher-pavillon.org](http://www.deutscher-pavillon.org/2013/en/english-ai-weiwei-declares-his-intent-for-triennial/) ‘Bang’ is a stacked furniture art installation created by Ai Weiwei for the Venice Art Biennale 2013. Weiwei’s installation makes a commentary on the artistic and cultural state of China; every household has “at least one stool which serves a range of purposes and that is passed down through each generation,” according to the artist. Although there are 886 three-legged wooden stools stacked high for the exhibit, this represents a decline in traditional craftsmanship after the cultural revolution. As wood began to be replaced with easily mass-produced materials like metal and plastic, handmade stools were similarly replaced by machine-made ones. It is staggering to think that all of these stools were meticulously cut, carved and painted by hand. A single old wooden stool may not be anything to stop and think twice about, but this installation sure is. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/ai-weiwei-bang-installation-at-venice-art-biennale-2013/class=FourteenG), [deutscher-pavillon.org](http://www.deutscher-pavillon.org/2013/en/english-ai-weiwei-declares-his-intent-for-triennial/class=FourteenG) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 24% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/furniture) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Upcycled Furniture:** Upscaling old furniture to create sustainable and unique new pieces presents an opportunity for artisanal-focused disruption. - **Handcrafted Art Installations:** Handmade installations showcase the value and artistry of traditional crafts and can foster appreciation for locally-made and sourced goods. - **Cultural Commentary Art:** Fine art can provide a platform for commentary on cultural traditions and histories, inciting dialogue and reflection. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art and Design:** Artists and designers can utilize discarded materials to create one-of-a-kind pieces with sustainable and artistic value. - **Furniture and Home Decor:** Furniture makers and upcyclers can capitalize on the growing demand for unique and eco-friendly home decor by offering handmade and upcycled pieces. - **Cultural Preservation and Heritage:** Organizations and initiatives that preserve and promote cultural heritage can benefit from artistic commentary on traditional crafts and practices to raise awareness. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Discarded Shoe-Created Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wu-series.md) - [Stool-Inspired Design Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hackability-of-the-stool.md) - [Sizable Chair Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chair-installation.md) - [Refugee-Informed Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-life-jackets-installation.md) - [Mountainous Repurposed Crate Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crate-installation.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Fan-Shaped Stackable Stool Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stool-concept.md) - [East-Meets-West-Inspired Layered Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cornice.md) - [Cultural Wood Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lost-cloth-object.md)