with Elettra Stamboulis; illustrated by Gianluca Costantini
Artist Ai Weiwei has risen to global prominence by creating memorably striking works of art, often on a very large scale, that bring attention to a variety of global injustices with a particular focus on those committed by his native China. As one can imagine, the Chinese government is less than thrilled about being depicted in anything approaching a negative light, and so Weiwei was at one time taken into custody and then ultimately placed on house arrest for several years, before being able to move to Europe in 2015.
In Zodiac, a memoir in graphic novel form, he recounts significant moments from his life, ranging from his childhood in the Chinese countryside to the reaction towards some of his art installations to the treatment he received from his own country. Presented in lovely pen-and-ink style drawings by the Italian comic artist Gianluca Costantini, the book is structured as if he is relaying these stories to his young son, mixing them in with folklore oriented around the animals of the Chinese zodiac calendar. This allows the narrative to jump back and forth in time, focusing on themes and ideas rather than a strict chronological retelling, much as a real conversation might.
Anyone seeking a deeper knowledge of his life would be better served looking elsewhere, but it definitely feels like readers will come away knowing more about his philosophy. His thoughts about artistic expression and our right to it, along with the very essence of human nature are quite interesting, though it would be nice to see them fleshed out a bit further. Lovely to look at and entertaining to read, Zodiac is a nice treat for fans of Ai Weiwei and will also serve as a good introduction for those who are less familiar with the artist. ★★★★
★★★★★ = Excellent | ★★★★ = Very Good | ★★★ = Good | ★★ = Fair | ★ = Poor
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Ai is his surname so Sean (or should I say Mr. Farrell) may be getting too familiar with his subject.
Sorry, just printing it the way the publisher lists it! 🙂