Ai Weiwei’s With Wind installation greets visitors with a colorful explosion of paper forms that take flight within the former prison. The dragon is a symbol of power and freedom, however its paper construction is delicate. Its constrained position creates tension between the mythical and the real; the concept of freedom and the cold, hard walls that contain it. The vibrant dragon is joined by smaller kites representing flowers and birds – symbols of freedom and life that reflect the gardens outside and the site’s role as a flourishing avian habitat.
Ai Weiwei has a history of working with skilled Chinese craftsmen to create his large-scale artworks. Kite making is a dying craft in China, so Ai Weiwei supported the industry by working with artisans who handmade the kites using silk, paper, and bamboo. The artist teamed up with the FOR-SITE Foundation to install the installation in the New Industries building on Alcatraz. The building housed “privileged” prisoners who were offered the opportunity to work as a reward for good behavior. Work offered an escape from boredom and isolation, and it could earn prisoners a shorter sentence – hence the building’s connection with freedom and personal expression.
+ @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz
+ Ai Weiwei
+ Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Photos by Mike Chino for Inhabitat
