Ai Weiwei, The Art of Defiance
Few artists have occupied so many roles simultaneously. Artist, certainly. But also architect, curator, writer, publisher, filmmaker, documentarian, collector, social critic, internet pioneer, and public intellectual. Throughout his career, Ai Weiwei has consistently dissolved the boundaries separating artistic practice from everyday life, historical research from political engagement, craftsmanship from conceptual art. His oeuvre could never be understood through any single discipline because it deliberately refuses to remain within one.
Patrick Derom Gallery presents Ai Weiwei’s first major retrospective in Belgium. Iconic works from the 1990s, such as the photographic series Study of Perspective, are shown alongside landmark pieces including Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola Logo, in which the artist confronts cultural heritage with contemporary critique. The exhibition also features more recent works, notably his LEGO compositions such as Illumination, as well as his button-based practice represented by F.U.C.K..
The sculptural works Grapes and Strength, together with the monumental installations Left Right Studio Material and Backpack Snake, demonstrate the continual expansion of Ai Weiwei’s artistic language. Through this diversity of media and formats, the retrospective highlights a coherent body of work shaped by an ongoing reflection on systems of power, cultural memory, and freedom of expression.
In parallel, a companion exhibition is presented at the Musée Émile Verhaeren. It originates from the unique connection between the Belgian poet Émile Verhaeren and Ai Qing, the artist’s father, who was the first to translate Verhaeren’s poetry into Chinese, introducing his work to Chinese audiences. This formative encounter had a profound impact on Ai Qing’s intellectual and artistic development. Extending the retrospective, this dialogue between poetry, memory, and legacy situates Ai Weiwei’s work within a narrative that is both deeply personal and intercultural.
A catalogue is published on the occasion of the exhibitions Ai Weiwei at Patrick Derom Gallery (18 September–14 November 2026, Brussels) and at the Musée Émile Verhaeren (20 September–13 December 2026, Puurs-Sint-Amands). It includes contributions by Edouard Derom, John Tancock, Thomas Crow, Lee Ambrozy, Rik Hemmerijckx, and Lieven Van Den Abeele.
Admission to the exhibition is free. While walk-ins are welcome, access can only be guaranteed with an advance reservation made through the link below.
