Ai Weiwei, Sunflower Seeds (detail)

Ai Weiwei: 13 works to know

By Harriet Baker

Published on 14 September 2015

Ai Weiwei has worked in everything from paint to readymades. As our landmark exhibition examines work from 1993 up to the present day, we take a look at some of the key works to know from across Ai's career.

In Ai Weiwei’s work, there is no division between art and politics. Throughout his career, the artist has never shied away from difficult truths and has resolutely fought for freedom of expression. Through sculpture, film, installation, photography and architecture – and across an array of materials including ceramics, marble, paint and tea – he has campaigned for human rights with works dealing with oppression, commemoration and Chinese identity and social history, as poignant as they are provocative. Find out more about Ai Weiwei's life and work in our beginner's guide.

Here, we take a quick look at 13 key works throughout his career.

Still Life, 1993–2000

Ai Weiwei, Still Life — . Dimensions variable
3,600 stone tools dating from the Stone Age to the Shang Dynasty (10,000-1100 BC). Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, 1995

Ai Weiwei, Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn — 3 black and white prints. Each 148 x 121 cm
Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio Image courtesy Ai Weiwei © Ai Weiwei

'The Bird's Nest', National Stadium, Beijing, 2005–08

Ai Weiwei, 'The Bird's Nest', National Stadium, Beijing — .
Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Fragments, 2005

Ai Weiwei, Fragments — . 500 x 850 x 700 cm
Iron wood (tieli wood) table, chairs, parts of beams and pillars from dismantled temples of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). M + Sigg Collection, Hong Kong. By donation. Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Template, 2007

Ai Weiwei, Template — .
After collapsing at Documenta 12, Kassel, 2007. Wooden doors and windows from destroyed Ming and Qing Dynasty houses (1368–1911). Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Fountain of Light, 2007

Ai Weiwei, Fountain of Light — Steel and glass crystals on wooden base. 700 x 529 x 400 cm
Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Straight, 2008–12

Ai Weiwei, Straight — Steel reinforcing bars. 1200 x 600 cm
Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio. Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Remembering, 2009

Ai Weiwei, Remembering — .
Installation on the façade of the Haus der Kunst, Munich. Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Sunflower Seeds, 2010

Ai Weiwei, Sunflower Seeds — .
Installation of 100 million painted porcelain seeds in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern, London. Photo © Tate, London 2015 © Ai Weiwei

S.A.C.R.E.D., 2012

Ai Weiwei, S.A.C.R.E.D. — Fibreglass, iron, oxidized metal, wood, polystyrenen, sticky tape. Each 377 x 198 x 153 cm
Six-part work composed of six dioramas – Supper, Accusers, Cleansing, Ritual, Entropy, Doubt. Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio and Lisson Gallery. Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Forever Bicycles, 2013

Ai Weiwei, Forever Bicycles — .
1,179 Forever bicycle frames, h. 10m. Installation at the 55th Venice Biennale, 2013. Courtesy of Lisson Gallery. Photography: Filippo Armellin © Ai Weiwei

Stools, 2013

Ai Weiwei, Stools — .
6,000 antique stools, dimensions variable. Installation at ‘In Evidence’, Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, 2014. Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Ye Haiyan’s Belongings, 2013

Ai Weiwei, Ye Haiyan’s Belongings — .
Installation at ‘Ai Weiwei: According to What?’, at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York. Image courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio © Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is in the Main Galleries of Burlington House from 19 September until 13 December.

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