Ai Weiwei's latest exhibition, 'Button Up!', at Aviva Studios in Manchester, is a staggering takedown of colonial history, warfare, and the migrant crisis. The show features buttons by the tonne, skeleton chandeliers, and a real-life temple reassembled piece by piece.
Monumental Scale and Effective Messaging
The Chinese artist presents his most monumental work yet, using enormous scale to drive home his points. A 100-metre-long giant inflatable dinghy filled with figures in lifejackets confronts visitors with the migrant crisis. Ai spent years interviewing hundreds of refugees, and this work is the culmination of that project. While not conventionally beautiful, it makes a loud, clear statement.
History Woven into Art
Flags representing the eight-nation alliance that invaded China in 1900 hang from the ceiling, sewn from tonnes of buttons bought from a bankrupt English button factory. They symbolise industrialisation, colonialism, and historic violence. The Wang Family Ancestral Hall, a real temple from Jiangxi, has been reassembled in the gallery, offering a window into pre-industrial China. Under its columns, boxes hold hidden Chinese historical narratives.
Symbolic Tea and Mixed Results
In the temple, three dolls' houses sit on a bed of pu'erh tea, symbolising Chinese culture and wealth. The tea also references a euphemism for police interrogation. This is the strongest work, blending past and present beautifully. However, some pieces fall short. A portrait of Napoleon with his horse replaced by a zebra, or migrant boats on Hokusai's wave, feel heavy-handed. Lego mosaics, including the 'History of Bombs', seem obvious and silly.
Emotional Impact and Warning
Despite weaker moments, Ai's best work carries emotional weight. He treats history as both a warning and a roadmap, explaining present injustices through past horrors. The exhibition is a plea to heed these lessons before it's too late. 'Ai Weiwei: Button Up!' runs at Aviva Studios, Manchester, from 2 July to 6 September.
