Ai Weiwei at Carolina Nitsch

Ai Weiwei, Kui Hua Zi (Sun Flower Seeds), 2009.
Ai Weiwei, Kui Hua Zi (Sun Flower Seeds), 2009.

One thousand hand-painted, porcelain sunflower seeds made in Jingdezhen, China are on offer at Carolina Nitsch as part of a show of work (80s NYC photos and Qing Dynasty chairs) by dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.  Once a metaphor for the Chinese populace following their leadership as the sunflower follows the sun, these remnants of Weiwei’s five ton installation at Tate Modern suggest that it’s the artist who is followed so closely as his popularity continues to rise. (At Carolina Nitsch through Nov 3rd.)