Bowl of Pearls 2006

Ai Weiwei's "Bowl of Pearls" from 2006 is a stark and thought-provoking installation consisting of a large bowl filled with white porcelain spheres, mimicking pearls. Ai Weiwei, a prominent Chinese contemporary artist, is known for his use of everyday objects to address social and political issues. This minimalist work, while seemingly simple, challenges viewers to contemplate the fragility and value of human life, reflecting on themes of mass production, consumerism, and the potential for destruction. The repetition of the porcelain spheres creates a sense of uniformity and insignificance, raising questions about the individual versus the collective.