@Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz

@Large, the Alcatraz installation of Ai Weiwei’s work, is not easy to access. One must first book a ferry trip to the abandoned island where the former prison is located. Now under the auspices of the National Park Service, the Pacific Ocean island has breathtaking views of San Francisco and the Bay Area.
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In the New Industries Building’s first room, Ai Weiwei installed Chinese dragon kites. There are pictures of birds and plants representing nations that violate the human rights of their citizens.
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The second room, the LEGO room, displays portraits of more than 175 people from around the world who have been detained because of their beliefs. Their portraits are made of 1.2 million LEGO bricks.
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In the Cellhouse-Block, fragile-looking white porcelain bouquets of flowers can be found in bathtubs, sinks and toilets. In other cells, Tibetan and Native American chants can be heard.
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Give yourself plenty of time to get on the ferry back to San Francisco and Pier 33. When we visited there were massive amounts of people trying to return and big lines. Alcatraz is now under the auspices of the National Parks Service.
 
Published
March 26, 2015
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