International artist and famous Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei has provided Toronto with a foretaste of his major show, coming to the AGO in August. There are twelve bronze sculptures mounted in City Hall’s courtyard reflecting pool. They represent the animal figures of the Chinese zodiac but they are also a political reminder of The Opium Wars, which are a historical dark stain on European relations with the Chinese. The twelve heads are inspired by sculptures that were looted by the British and French when they burned down the Chinese Emperor’s summer palace in 1860.
Of course, everyone goes immediately to their own sign… Danica was born in the Year of the Horse. More pictures below…
As some would expect, I was born in the Year of the Monkey.
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Great installation…hard to choose a favourite but I think the Ram wins it. Nice day – we met some nice people and distracted a seeing-eye dog without even trying.
Hi Bill
Just checking in from Oma’s place to say thanks for your always interesting blog. I’m really looking forward to seeing this installation, but I see you’ve chosen to omit the rat. I’m a rat! Not the most distinguished critter, I know–sharp teeth, pointy nose, naked tail, bad associations. You might even argue that rats are so well represented in our present government that they don’t need any more media exposure. Still, you’ve got a snake there, so why the discrimination? (Sorry, I obviously don’t have enough to do here!)
Thanks for looking and leaving a comment, Ulli. How out of character for you to be a Year of the Rat baby! Sorry I left your sign out of the photos, but here is a compensatory thought: Ai Weiwei placed your Rat right up front in his City Hall display. in fact the three zodiac heads that form the front line are The The Bull, The Rat and The Pig. Dissident humour?
Hi Bill. Thanks for taking my comment in good part. Sounds like the Rat is in good company. I’m pretty sure Ai Wei Wei would have had a say in the arrangement, so it might well be that this is a a quiet poke in the ribs for City Hall. My ego has been reinflated!