Live Auction 10383Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction
Ai Weiwei (B. 1957)
Lot 3

Ai Weiwei (B. 1957)

Watermelon

Closed16 October 2015

Price Realised

GBP 62,500

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Ai Weiwei (B. 1957)
Watermelon
glazed porcelain
15 ¾ x 15 3/8 x 15 3/8in. (40 x 39 x 39cm.)
Executed in 2006, this work is unique

Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner.

Specialist note

‘Creating perfect, lusciously glazed replicas of watermelons […] goes to the heart of the “culture” problem: who decides what is precious, of enduring value to society, and for what reasons? Ai firmly believes that “All humanity lives according to certain immutable conditions of life, and of society. That has always been so. Artists should always aim to challenge these whenever the opportunity arises’’’
(K. Smith, H. U. Obrist and B. Fibicher, Ai Weiwei, London 2009, p. 85).