An Ode to Freedom, Ai Weiwei’s 12m-Tall Steel Cage Structure Unveiled in Stockholm

Right ahead of getting a permanent home in Stockholm, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s steel sculpture Arch has been recently installed outside the city’s National Museum gallery. Crafted out of polished steel, the 12 m tall cage-like structure has a cutout of two intertwined human figures at its centre. Know more about the project on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).

The Arch installation on the Blasieholmen peninsula in Stockholm’s archipelago has been organized by the creative foundation Brilliant Minds. Established in 2015 by Spotify founder Daniel Ek and entrepreneur Ash Pournori, Brilliant Minds is known to host annual events in Stockholm that support creative individuals who have world-changing ideas.

As a part of the Good Fences Make Good Neighbours installation, the sculpture made its debut back in 2017 in New York. The installation is the first in a series of cultural exhibits that Brilliant Minds will reportedly support in Stockholm for the next five years. The Arch will be moved to an undisclosed permanent site in the city after a year.

The two intertwining human figures that appear to break through the steel bars that surround them represent the free passage for all, thereby resonating with the idea of a world without borders. The passageway with the fence resonates with the movement of inhabitation. The Arch celebrates innovation and creativity alongside connecting local communities. According to the artist, it is crucial to make the Arch visible for the development and protection of free expression. Giving out a thought-provoking message that reflects the uncertainty of the times that we are living in, the Arch urges its spectators to come together to overcome the challenge of change in a time of political divisiveness, refugee crisis and isolation.

Quite known for his political artworks, Ai has also contributed in designing a footprint flag for human rights to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Arch is Ai’s one of the biggest public art project.

Image credits: Jean Lapin

×

Post Your Comment


"Content that powers your Business. News that keeps you informed."

Surfaces Reporter is one of India's leading media in Print & Digital Telecast for News on Interiors & Architecture Projects, Products, Building Materials, and the Business of Design! Since 2011, it serves as a referral for designers & architects to know about inspiring projects and source new products. If you have a Product or Project worth publishing in Surfaces Reporter, please email us hello@surfacesreporter.com or you can also submit your project online.

Like Surfaces Reporter on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter and Instagram | Subscribe to our magazine | Sign Up for the FREE Surfaces Reporter Magazine Newsletter

Architects can now Track Building Carbon Footprint Right from Design Stage

Unlike most carbon analysis tools that depend on detailed 3D models or comprehensive datasets, CarbonSpace delivers quick, approximate estimates using minimal input such as floor area, facade surface and foundation volume.

Read more

This Sydney Pavilion turns Oyster Shells into Sustainable Civic Architecture

Integral to the pavilion’s identity is its unique oyster terrazzo cladding, a bespoke material developed exclusively for this project after a year of experimentation by Besley & Spresser.

Read more

Arazzo Luxury Kitchens by Asian Paints Beautiful Homes - launches at EDGE Studio Ahmedabad - SURFACES REPORTER

Asian Paints’ Beautiful Homes unveiled Arazzo Kitchens with a first-of-its-kind experience centre at EDGE Studio, Ahmedabad — a move that brings the company’s curated luxury-home retail vision closer to designers, architects and high-end homeowners in Gujarat.

Read more

Inside Zaha Hadid Architects’ Lotus-Inspired Navi Mumbai Airport Terminal

Awarded after an international design competition in 2018, NMIA is Zaha Hadid Architects’ most significant Indian commission to date and one of its largest airport projects globally.

Read more


This is alt