Original: Ai Weiwei, "Guardian," 2024, Signed, in Original Packing

03· Surveillance cameras Aliteral representation of the scrutiny Weiwei has been subjected to throughouthis life. When his former studio was encircled by state surveillance cameras,he decorated each of them with a traditional red lantern. 04· Bank notes folded into paper planes When FakeCultural Development Ltd. was accused of tax evasion, the internetrushed to Weiwei’s aid. As well as transfers from around the world, bank notesfolded into paper planes sailed over the walls of his studio compound. 05· River crabs Anod to the feast Weiwei hosted to mark the demolition of his studio inShanghai. In Mandarin, river crab is a homophone for harmony – a governmentslogan coopted online for covert communication suffused with irony. 06· Handcuffs Referringspecifically to his 81-day incarceration at the hands of the Chinese government,Weiwei uses handcuffs as a symbol for oppression and the denial of freedom. 07· Traditional costume Weiwei’sensemble alludes to various deities from Chinese culture, drawing parallelsbetween his artistic endeavours and their folkloric exploits. 08· Rebar Steelrebars, a construction material, refer to Weiwei’s investigation of corruptionafter an earthquake in Sichuan Province. He used reclaimed metal – warped bydisaster – in a body of work dedicated to the catastrophe. 09· Dragon Weiweiuses the Chinese zodiac as a conduit to explore the dissemination of culturalheritage and the complex relationship of modern China with its own history.2024 welcomes the year of the dragon. 10· Caonima Caonimaor grass mud horse sounds similar to a popular profanity and emerged online asa way to circumvent the authoritarian control of language, which became moreextreme during the Jasmine Revolution. 11· Watermelon Weiweispent his formative years under exile with his father in Xinjiang Province.Melons grew well in the region’s sandy soil. In his work, they symbolise thegenerosity of nature and our ability to thrive under inhospitable conditions. 12· Flowers In2013 Weiwei announced that he would place a bouquet of flowers in the basket ofa bicycle outside his studio every day until his passport was returned. It took600 days. For him, flowers represent freedom – intellectual and literal. 13· Chinese characters Since2005, alongside making artworks, Weiwei’s primary focus has been writing. Heobserves that shifts in society are linked closely to shifts in language. Byextension, he recognises the power of language to change the world. 14· Red InChinese culture the colour red is a symbol of fullness and good fortune.Historically it has also been associated with justice and, in absence ofjustice, revolution. 15· Door God Thedoor god is placed at thresholds during Lunar New Year to protect those insidefrom harm. Weiwei hopes that he too can dispel malevolent forces through hisart and activism. 16· Ai WeiWei Overthe course of his life Weiwei has become a symbol of reistance – advocating forjustice, free speech and human rights. His self-effacing self portrait embodiesan ongoing struggle with this status in realm of reality. Guardian Guardian translatesWeiwei's symbol-packed self portrait into a silkscreen print designed to echothe surface of a glossy ceramic tile, or cast concrete. Gold ink packed withmetallic powder and flecks of glitter radiates from beneath a layer offortuitous red ink.