# Refugee-Informed Installations Ai Weiwei Creates the Life Jackets Installation in Quebec City By Kalin Ned | Published 2022-08-23 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-life-jackets-installation References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2022/08/16/ai-weiwei-life-jackets-quebec-city/) & [passagesinsolites](https://passagesinsolites.com/en/)  The Life Jackets installation by celebrated Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is located in central Quebec City. The piece is launched as part of Passages Insolites, an annual festival that supercharges the urban landscape of the Candian city with various [public art activations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snowflake-exhibition). The Life Jackets installation is comprised of 2,000 life jackets. All of them were used by [Syrian refugees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emergency-refuge-shelter) as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea. As such, Ai Weiwei's work carries [deep political meaning](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banned-books-jail) as the artist critiques the physical and administrative borders that halt or slow down one's transition to safety. In a way, the life jackets, which adorn the facade of a 17th-century stone fortification, can be viewed as "a symbolic border." Image Credit: Stéphane Bourgeois ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 74% | Activity: 48% | Freshness: 12% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Refugee-informed Art Installations:** Creating art installations that highlight the refugee crisis, raises political awareness and creates empathy among the public. - **Upcycled Art:** Repurposing discarded items such as life jackets from refugees can create meaningful works of art. - **Political Art Activations:** Using art as a medium to comment on social and political issues can spark conversations and generate meaningful change. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Public Art:** The potential for any urban landscape to be revamped with powerful, meaningful art installations is limitless and could generate more tourism. - **Humanitarian:** Using art to raise awareness of humanitarian crises could encourage more people to take action and support organizations offering aid. - **Sustainable Fashion:** Using upcycled materials in fashion can create awareness and support sustainable fashion industry that respects the environment and human rights. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cage-Inspired Arch Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-weiweis-work.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Mask-Made Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tidal-stories.md) - [Brand-Backed Sculptural Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/briony-douglas.md) - [Desert Reflective Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shadow-travelling.md) - [Immigration System-Inspired Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/passport-series.md) - [Embassy Wait-Representing Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/water-clock-installation.md) - [Colorfully Inflatable Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blowup-art-the-hague.md) - [Illuminating Water-Based Pavillions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shelter-pavilion.md)