The ride of your life
Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei – who is known as much for his activism as for his art – once said, “My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. I don’t think anybody can separate art from politics.” Accordingly, the prolific contemporary artist’s works have often dealt with political themes.
Weiwei’s Untitled Bicycles, a set of 60 stainless steel bicycles, is no exception. These custom-made bikes – which the artist says symbolise the innate human desire for free will in expression and mobility – were first exhibited during the Brooklyn Museum’s 2014 retrospective Ai Weiwei: According to What? Now, the fully functional two-wheelers are available for sale. In addition to being powerful statements, the bicycles, which are priced at US$27,500 (RM122,715) and available exclusively through the museum, feature stainless steel bodies, white tires, and seats imprinted with an image of Weiwei’s face. Each example also comes with a stamped and numbered head tube and a certificate of authenticity.
