In this beautifully illustrated and deeply philosophical graphic
memoir, legendary artist Ai Weiwei explores the connection between
artistic expression and intellectual freedom through the lens of the
Chinese zodiac.
As
a child living in exile during the Cultural Revolution, Ai Weiwei
often found himself with nothing to read but government-approved
comic books. Although they were restricted by the confines of
political propaganda, Ai Weiwei was struck by the artists’ ability
to express their thoughts on art and humanity through graphic
storytelling. Now, decades later, Ai Weiwei and Italian comic artist
Gianluca Costantini present Zodiac,
Ai Weiwei’s first graphic memoir.
Inspired
by the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac
and their associated human characteristics, Ai Weiwei masterfully
interweaves ancient Chinese folklore with stories of his life,
family, and career. The narrative shifts back and forth through the
years—at once in the past, present, and future—mirroring memory
and our relationship to time. As readers delve deeper into the
beautifully illustrated pages of Zodiac,
they will find not only a personal history of Ai Weiwei and an
examination of the sociopolitical climate in which he makes his art,
but a philosophical exploration of what it means to find oneself
through art and freedom of expression.
Contemplative
and political, Zodiac
will inspire readers to return again and again to Ai Weiwei’s
musings on the relationship between art, time, and our shared
humanity.