A New Chapter

Press release

“An individual life can be seen as a coloured brick, but also as intuitive expression of, not only a two-dimensional plane, but also the digital plane – meaning the internet and pixels, which are parallel to the real world.”

Lisson Gallery is proud to present a compelling exhibition of new works by the renowned artist Ai Weiwei, showcasing a provocative exploration of contemporary issues through the lens of historical and artistic reference. Each piece in this show articulates a dialogue between past and present, revealing the artist’s relentless inquiry into the complexities of identity, politics, and cultural heritage.

At the heart of the exhibition is F.U.C.K. (all works 2024), a striking installation that employs buttons affixed to four Second World War military stretchers to spell out the provocative word. The buttons, sourced from the now-closed Brown & Co Buttons factory, were collected over the years, resulting in an astounding array of more than 9,000 varieties. This piece not only signifies the culmination of Ai’s extensive research into industrialization and textile history, but also represents a tangible connection to the first industrial revolution. The careful arrangement of buttons underscores themes of existence and disappearance, reflecting on how historical narratives are woven together through the fabric of material culture.