Monday, June 11, 2012

Hirshhorn Presents “Ai Weiwei: Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads”

The Smithsonian’s Hirshorn Museum is displaying Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei’s ironic take on the infamous “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads,” said to have been looted by British imperialists from the Summer Palace.   I suppose AiWeiwei’s oversized heads say something about the oversized nationalistic rhetoric Chinese officials and their allies in the Western archaeological community have employed to demand the return of the originals.   The exhibit will remain on view until February 24, 2013.

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