Cube Light 2008

Ai Weiwei made ‘Cube Light’, a giant structure of scaffolding around what looks like hand-woven glass, with electric lights inside. Imagine the patient labor involved. I feel for the artist making a piece like this. It’s almost insane in its ambition. I imagine Ai Weiwei contemplating the cultural and political implications of light, space, and form. Each section must have taken days, weeks maybe. The cube is so big it looks like it floats. The warm light reminds me of gold or honey, while the metal scaffolding adds a touch of industrial grit. 'Cube Light' calls to mind Sol LeWitt’s minimalist structures but with an added layer of human touch and complexity. It’s like he's saying, “Here’s my version of minimalism, but with a heart.” Artists throughout time have responded to the conversations of other artists, building on, reacting to, and twisting ideas. The magic, in a work like this, lies in the space it opens up for us to imagine, reflect, and question.