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Ai Weiwei gives world his middle finger

Last updated: April 16, 2025
Performances, Photography
Activist art, Ai Weiwei's art projects & exhibitions, Art & The Colosseum Rome, Art & The Eiffel Tower, Art & the Mona Lisa, Art & The Sydney Opera House, Art & The Trump Tower, Art & The White House, Art in Xinjiang, Artworks & exhibitions by Asian artists, Artworks & exhibitions in Asia, Artworks & exhibitions in Beijing, Artworks & exhibitions in Hong Kong, Artworks & exhibitions in New York, Artworks & exhibitions in Shanghai, Conceptual art, Helsinki Cathedral, Opera art, Sagrada Familia, Site-specific art, Tiananmen Square
5 min read
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective – Tiananmen“, 1995-2010, C-Print, 32,5 x 43,5 cm
1 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Tiananmen, 1995-2010
    • 1.About Ai Weiwei
    • 2.Study of Perspective
    • 3.The meaning of the work
    • 4.Different locations
    • 5.Consequences
    • 6.Conclusion
    • 7.‘Study of perspective’ photos
      • 7.1.In Asia
      • 7.2.In Australia
      • 7.3.In Europe
      • 7.4.In the US
    • 8.Middlefinger sculpture

About Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei 1 is a Chinese artist and activist. He has been vocal and openly critical of the Chinese government’s stance on democracy and human rights. His work has captured global attention and served to bring attention to social injustices, human rights violations and systemic violence. Ai never shies away from saying what he truly feels and he encourages people to state exactly what they want. And that’s what he did in his project Study of Perspective.

Study of Perspective

Study of Perspective is a photographic series produced by Ai Weiwei between 1995 and 2017. Throughout the series, viewers see Ai’s left arm extended forward with the middle finger raised to significant institutions, landmarks and monuments from around the world. These pictures mimic tourists’ photos and encourage people to question their adherence and acceptance towards governments, institutions and establishments. This series speaks out about Ai’s beliefs regarding freedom of speech, empowerment of the people, and democratic values and showcases his activist side in true colors.

The meaning of the work

Most of the time, the institutions he is pointing towards are the ones that tend to stop or abide by free speech, people empowerment or the democratic values in our society. Ai constantly shows a reminder that we need to represent our own values and not those created by others. Instead of using a flat surface to showcase his ideas, the artist focuses on the idea of interjecting his photos with a way to protest against many of the things that go wrong in China 23 and other countries. That’s why he only points at buildings, not at people. He understands that people are the ones that will be able to change things and move them around in a truly interesting manner.

Different locations

The first in this series was shot in Tiananmen Square 45 in 1995, where during the 1989 democracy movement protests, hundreds to thousands of unarmed protesters were killed. In Study of Perspective – Tiananmen Square, the photo first appears to be a classic tourist photo in which Ai sticks his middle finger up at Tiananmen Square Gate. This offensive gesture reveals Ai’s disdain for the Communist China rulers and what they stood for. Other landmarks featured in Ai’s series include the White House in Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and The Reichstag in Berlin. The gesture is the focal point of the photo, as the objects closer to the eye appear larger. Thus his statement is the key point in the image.

Consequences

The series achieved worldwide recognition following Ai posting the images on his blog 67 (2005-2009). Due to its popularity, Ai was detained and questioned at length in 2011 89 by the Chinese police, with all the questions, pointed towards the Tiananmen photo. Following Ai’s detention, other people began to post similar images of themselves on the internet as a signal of solidarity. His work has not only brought attention to a number of social issues but has garnered support and inspired other activities. Of course, the Tiananmen photo is totally banned 1011 from appearing in any Chinese media.

Conclusion

Study of Perspective will help you double think about your allegiances and re-adjust your feelings regarding many important institutions in our society.

‘Study of perspective’ photos

In Asia

Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective 1995-2011, 2014 Shanghai Lujiazui, 2003 50 x 66,6 cm
2 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Shanghai Lujiazui, 2003
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective 1995-2011, 2014 Zuo You Studio, Beijing, China, 2007 50 x 75 cm
3 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Zuo You Studio, Beijing, China, 2007
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China 1995, 1995–2011; gelatin silver photograph; various dimensions
4 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China, 1995
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Hong Kong
5 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Hong Kong
Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Xinjiang, China, 1995
6 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Xinjiang, China, 1995

In Australia

Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Sydney Opera House, 2006, 1995 – 2011
7 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Sydney Opera House, 2006

In Europe

Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective – Eiffel Tower, 1995-2003, Gelatin silver print, 38.9x59cm
8 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Eiffel Tower, 1995-2003
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Study of perspective - Eiffel Tower, 1999, 90x127cm
9 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Eiffel Tower, 1999
Ai Weiwei - Studies of Perspective, Mona Lisa, 1995-2003
10 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Mona Lisa, 1995-2003, Paris
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective 1995-2011, 2014 Colosseum, Rome, Italy, 2003 50 x 66,6 cm
11 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, San Marco
12 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, San Marco
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Sagrada Familia
13 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Ai-Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Study of Perspective, 1995 - 2011
14 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, 1995-2011, Valle de los Caídos, Spain
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Volksbühne, 2016
15 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Volksbühne, Berlin, Germany, 2016
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective - Berne 1995-2003
16 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Berne
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, Helsinki Cathedral, 2001
17 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Helsinki Cathedral, 2001
Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Viking Line, 2001
18 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Viking Line, 2001

In the US

Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective - White House, 1995 - 2003
19 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, White House, 1995-2003, Washington, D.C.
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, White House
20 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, White House
Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Trump Tower, New York City, USA, 2017
21 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Trump Tower, New York City, USA, 2017
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective 1995-2011, 2014 Ocean, Miami, FL, USA, 2006 50 x 66,6 cm
22 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, Ocean, Miami, FL, USA, 2006
Ai Weiwei - Study of Perspective, New York City
23 Ai Weiwei – Study of Perspective, New York City

Middlefinger sculpture

Ai Weiwei - Untitled, from Study of Perspective series, 2017. Electroplated rhodium on cast urethane resin 5 x 4-1:2 x 4-1:2 inches. Limited edition of 1,000
24 Ai Weiwei – Untitled from Study of Perspective, 2017. Electroplated rhodium on cast urethane resin, 5 x 4-1/2 x 4-1/2 inches, Limited edition of 1,000, image: Sotheby’s

More by Ai Weiwei

Citation

Footnotes

1. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/ai-weiwei/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_issues_in_China
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_issues_in_China
4. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/tiananmen-square/
5. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/tiananmen-square/
6. https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/ai-weiweis-blog
7. https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/ai-weiweis-blog
8. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/apr/03/ai-weiwei-detained-chinese-police
9. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/apr/03/ai-weiwei-detained-chinese-police
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_China#Tiananmen_Square_protest_of_1989
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_China#Tiananmen_Square_protest_of_1989
1. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-–-Tiananmen“-1995-2010-C-Print-325-x-435-cm.jpg ↩
2. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-1995-2011-2014-Shanghai-Lujiazui-2003-50-x-666-cm-.jpg ↩
3. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-1995-2011-2014-Zuo-You-Studio-Beijing-China-2007-50-x-75-cm-.jpg ↩
4. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Tiananmen-Square-Beijing-China-1995-1995–2011-gelatin-silver-photograph-various-dimensions.jpg ↩
5. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Hong-Kong.jpg ↩
6. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-–-Study-of-Perspective-Xinjiang-China-1995.jpg ↩
7. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Sydney-Opera-House-2006-1995-–-2011.jpg ↩
8. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-–-Eiffel-Tower-1995-2003-Gelatin-silver-print-38.9x59cm.jpg ↩
9. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Study-of-perspective-Eiffel-Tower-1999-90x127cm.jpg ↩
10. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Studies-in-Perspective-Mona-Lisa-1995-2003.jpg ↩
11. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-1995-2011-2014-Colosseum-Rome-Italy-2003-50-x-666-cm-.jpg ↩
12. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-San-Marco.jpg ↩
13. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Sagrada-Familia.jpg ↩
14. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Study-of-Perspective-1995-2011.jpeg ↩
15. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Volksbühne-2016.jpg ↩
16. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Berne-1995-2003.jpg ↩
17. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-Helsinki-Cathedral-2001.jpg ↩
18. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-–-Study-of-Perspective-Viking-Line-2001-.jpg ↩
19. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-White-House-1995-2003.jpg ↩
20. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-White-House.jpg ↩
21. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-–-Study-of-Perspective-Trump-Tower-New-York-City-USA-2017.jpg ↩
22. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-1995-2011-2014-Ocean-Miami-FL-USA-2006-50-x-666-cm.jpg ↩
23. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Study-of-Perspective-New-York-City.jpg ↩
24. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ai-Weiwei-Untitled-from-Study-of-Perspective-series-2017.-Electroplated-rhodium-on-cast-urethane-resin-5-x-4-12-x-4-12-inches.-Limited-edition-of-1000-.jpg ↩
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