“A thought provoking exhibition that combines monumental artwork with powerful stories from history and modern society”
Factory International has built a reputation for bringing world class exhibitions to Manchester, and Ai Weiwei: Button Up! continues that trend. It is the internationally renowned artist and activist’s largest exhibition in the North to date. Filling the Warehouse at Aviva Studios it explores themes of migration, censorship, colonial history and Chinese and British relations. It is ambitious in scale, but also in the ideas it asks visitors to consider.
Walking into the Warehouse, it immediately feels cool and dark. It sets the tone straight away. The artwork is given plenty of space, allowing each installation to have its own presence. The scale is striking, but it never feels excessive. Every piece has a reason for being there.
Ai Weiwei is known for combining artistic vision with political activism, and that runs throughout the exhibition. A timeline of his life gives useful background to understand the artwork deeper. It covers his childhood, his detention in China and his experiences of censorship.
The exhibition covers a huge amount of history, but it remains easy to follow. Migration, trade, colonialism and political power all appear throughout. Manchester’s place in the Industrial Revolution is used as one part of that story, connecting the city’s history with wider conversations about Britain’s relationship with China.
The most impactful moment, for me, comes while reading the story behind the children who died after schools collapsed during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Their names were read aloud throughout the exhibition, it’s simple but incredibly powerful.
The scale of the installations is impressive, but they are more than just large works of art. Each piece encourages visitors to stop and think. Some challenge ideas around power and censorship. Others reflect on migration, conflict or politics. There is a lot to take in, but the exhibition never feels inaccessible. The information alongside each work provides enough context without telling visitors exactly what to think.
What makes Button Up! work so well is its balance. The exhibition is visually impressive, but it is the stories behind the artwork that leave the biggest impression. Rather than offering answers, Ai Weiwei encourages visitors to ask questions about history, responsibility and the world we live in today. It’s an exhibition that feels both relevant and memorable.
This exhibition runs until 7 September at the Warehouse, Aviva Studios, Manchester. Tickets are available here.