Graduation Year
2017
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Art History
Reader 1
Bill Anthes
Reader 2
Bruce Coats
Rights Information
© 2017 Wei Wu
Abstract
In 2010, Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds made its debut in Tate Modern, which promoted Ai to be one of the most famous and respected contemporary Chinese artists. This Conceptual art work has multiple layers of meanings, which all corresponds to the Western expectations for a successful contemporary Chinese artist. In fact, the Western art world has long held bias and stereotypes towards international artists. Ai chose to perform his personality to conform to the expectations and Western ideologies, which brought him international fame. On the other hand, other Chinese artists, including Cai Guo-Qiang and Zhou Chunya, don't totally agree with these Western ideologies, and therefore their fame in the society are less distinguished than Ai.
Recommended Citation
Wu, Wei, "Spreading Seeds: Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds and His Performative Personality Received in the West" (2017). Scripps Senior Theses. 1046.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/1046
Included in
Art Practice Commons, Asian Art and Architecture Commons, Ceramic Arts Commons, Contemporary Art Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Theory and Criticism Commons
