Ai Wei Wei's @LARGE Exhibit

Special Ai Wei Wei Edition pamphlet.

This is my second attempt to see this exhibit but this time I played it safe and reserved my tickets online. I went to see the exhibit on 3/21/2015 (sorry Prof. O'Brien for missing class) and it was great experience! I took a lot of pictures, recorded some videos, and it was my first time being on Alcatraz.

Full boat of visitors on a Tuesday.

Let the tour begin!

Map of the various exhibits.

I like looking at architecture, even the skeletal remains of them.

The first stop of the @large exhibit was the Cellblock-A which various cells are opened to allow the visitor to sit on a stool and listen to audio recordings of music, poetry, or spoken words of people who have been detained for creative expression of their beliefs. I personally was more partial to music recordings such as Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away (Punk Prayer) by Pussy Riot and Study for String Orchestra by Pavel Haas.

The stools used to listen to the sound exhibitions.

"In This Dead-End Street" by Ahmed Shamlu.

Cat recording the sound.

Mugshot!

The second stop was the Hospital and Dining Hall, here the exhibit features Blossom which features small white porcelain flowers in areas that would contain water such as toilets, sinks, and bathtubs. At first I didn't understand the significance of this exhibit but after going back and reading the information poster, the flowers are suppose to represent comfort as if you where to give flowers to a loved one in a hospital. Also to further imply the delicateness of the flower, the choice of material helps with this. The poster doesn't mention why the flowers are in water sourced areas but after thinking about it and discussing it with a friend, we thought that the water could represent freedom and life because water gives life to pretty much everything (in this case flowers) and freedom because water is something that can flow in and out of the prison on its own will.

"Blossom"

The Dining Hall's exhibit consisted of a hand's on activity where you are able to write to various people around the world who are detained for their beliefs or expression. There are tables and benches where a notebook sits and your are able to look for a particular individual and find the corresponding postcard to write to them. I was surprised to find someone who is the same nationality as me, which is Laotian, so naturally I wrote to him. His name is Seng-Aloun Phengphanh and he was arrested for trying to display posters calling for social and political reform.

Seng-Aloun Phengphanh of Laos.

Front of postcard.

Back of post card, just saying "hello" on Laos and wishing a Happy Laos New Year. 

The last stop was the New Industries Building, which is probably my favorite part of the exhibit because there was so much to visually absorb. Upon entering, the first thing you see is a huge paper/kite dragon consisting of various bright colors and as you follow the body of the dragon you can find quotes of imprisoned people, even Ai Wei Wei himself. The next room stretches very long and the floor is covered with portraits of people in prison made out of Legos. And after that we were directed to a different section of the building where we walked the guards catwalk which overlooks where the prisoners would be working. In there a large installation made of primarily metal and solar oven panels are made into a bird's wing. While observing the installation we began to have a in depth conversation with a tour personnel about the piece regarding its meaning, the materials chosen, and the location in which its displayed and they we view it.

Admiring the abandoned building.

"Watch out! There's a dragon behind you!"

Dragon selfie.

Paper kites.

Selfie with the wildlife.

"Every one of us is a potential convict" - A message from Ai Wei Wei on the dragon.

Those are a lot of Legos.

Portrait of Mr. Phengphanh made in Legos.

Realistic face rendering in Legos.

Here's an idea of the scale of the Lego mural.

Bird wing installation made of solar cooking panels.