Structural Lens
The three-part photo format shows Ai Weiwei holding, dropping and smashing the Han Dynasty urn
What is a triptych?
Ai Weiwei's father, punished during political campaigns, was this famous poet
Who is Ai Qing?
This chairman led China's Cultural Revolution (1966–1976)
Who is Mao Zedong?
Francisco Goya was a painter and printmaker of this nationality
What is Spanish?
Ai Weiwei's 100 million Sunflower Seeds are made from this material, hand-painted by skilled artisans.
What is porcelain?
Goya's severe illness left him with this permanent condition, adding to his isolation
What is deafness?
In Sunflower Seeds, Mao is the Sun and the people are these
What are sunflowers?
Ai Weiwei was born in this city in 1957
What is Beijing?
The Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn photographs use this colour treatment, which gives them a documentary quality
What is black-and-white?
Ai Weiwei's family was exiled to this region of China, where they lived under surveillance
What is Xinjiang?
During the Cultural Revolution, Mao encouraged destroying the "Four ___": ideas, culture, customs and habits
What are the Four Olds?
Ai Weiwei lived in this city from 1981 to 1993, influenced by Duchamp and Warhol
What is New York?
Goya shows the French soldiers in The Third of May 1808, from behind, which makes them appear this way
What is black and white?
Goya's later, introspective and pessimistic works moved away from his earlier paintings made for this setting
What is the (Spanish) court?
By destroying the Han urn, Ai Weiwei challenges the belief that historical objects should automatically be treated this way
What is sacred or untouchable?
Goya is often described as the last of the Old Masters and the first of these
What is the first modern artist?
In Saturn Devouring His Son, Saturn's dominant size, central placement and close cropping have this effect on the viewer
What is forcing the viewer into an uncomfortable confrontation with the violence?
Ai Weiwei's childhood left him with a distrust of authority, a belief in the importance of truth and this third belief
What is a belief that art can create change?
After the Peninsular War, this king restored absolute monarchy and removed constitutional reforms, making Saturn a metaphor for authoritarian power
Who is Ferdinand VII?
In 1978 Ai Weiwei joined this group, described as China's first avant-garde art movement
What is The Stars?