An Activist Artist in The Face of Refugee Crisis: Al Weiwei

Öz

This article explores the struggle of artist and activist Ai Weiwei in the face of the refugee crisis in today's world. With its critical and thought-provoking works containing politically weighted messages, he addresses the insensitivity of the contemporary world to the refugee crisis and the international artworks that challenge the barricades it has been established on the borders for everyday political purposes. Evaluating the multifaceted refugee crisis on the axis of contemporary art, Ai Weiwei leaves artistic reforms in social memory with works that prove the objectivity and universality of art. The refugee crisis, which reached its peak with the Syrian civil war in the last 10 years, has become the main theme of the works of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who is also an immigrant. He offers strong artistic forms that show his active role in developing human policies and achieving humanitarian goals with his artistic activities on the international platform.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ai Weiwei
• refugee crisis
• art
• Critical Art

Mülteci Krizi Karşısında Aktivist Bir Sanatçı: Al Weiwei

Öz

Bu makale, günümüz dünyasında yaşanan mülteci krizi karşısında sanatçı ve aktivist Ai Weiwei’nin sanatıyla verdiği mücadeleyi araştırıyor. Siyasi ağırlıklı mesajlar içeren eleştirel ve düşündürücü çalışmalarıyla çağdaş dünyanın mülteci krizi karşısındaki duyarsızlığı ve gündelik politik amaçlarla sınırlarına kurdukları barikatlara meydan okuyan uluslararası sanat çalışmalarıyla ele almaktadır. Çağımızın önemli problemlerinden biri olan mülteci krizleri, iç savaşlar, doğal afetler veya siyasi baskılar nedeniyle milyonlarca insanın evlerini, yurtlarını terk etmek zorunda kaldıkları ciddi insani olaylardır. Etkileri ulusal ve uluslararası olan bu küresel sorun, beraberinde birçok yeni probleme neden olabilmektedir. Farklı kurum ve kuruluşlarca ele alınan bu sorun sanatın da odak noktasını oluşturmaktadır. Bu çerçevede sanatın toplumsal rolü oldukça önemli ve değerlidir. Çok yönlü olan mülteci krizini çağdaş sanat ekseninde değerlendiren Ai Weiwei, sanatın objektifliği ve evrenselliğini kanıtlayıcı işleriyle toplumsal hafızada sanatsal reformlar bırakmaktadır. Son 10 yılda yaşanan Suriye iç savaşıyla zirve noktasına ulaşan mülteci krizi, sanatçı ve kendisi de göçmen olan Çinli sanatçı Ai Weiwei’nin sanatının ana teması haline gelmiştir. Uluslararası platformda gerçekleştirdiği sanatsal aktiviteleriyle insani politikaların geliştirilmesine ve insani amaçlara ulaştırılmasındaki etkin rolünü gösteren güçlü sanatsal formlar sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ai Weiwei
• art
• mülteci krizi
• sanat
• eleştirel sanat

Kaynakça

1. Akram, S. M. (2018). The Search for Protection for Stateless Refugees in the Middle East: Palestinians and Kurds in Lebanon and Jordan. International Journal of Refugee Law, Volume 30, Issue 3, October 2018, Pages 407–443. DOI: 10.1093/ijrl/eey044
2. Amirkhani, J. (10 Kasım 2016). Between Citizenry and Privilege: Ai Weiwei and Bouchra Khalili. Artpractical. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.artpractical.com/feature/between-citizenry-and-privilege
3. Brittanica. John M. Cunningham (Ed). Ai Weiwei. Access date: 26.05.2021. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ai-Weiwei
4. Bullen, R. (2010). Refining the Past. The British Journal of Aesthetics, Volume 50, Issue 3, July 2010, Pages 243–254. DOI: 10.1093/aesthj/ayq019.
5. CBC (2017). Chinese artist Ai Weiwei brings new refugee-themed piece to Prague. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/ai-weiwei-refugee-art-prague-1.4029979
6. Crisp, J. (2018). A Global Academic Network on Refugees: Some Unanswered Questions. International Journal of Refugee Law, Volume 30, Issue 4, December 2018, Pages 640–642. DOI: 10.1093/ijrl/eey050
7. Dhillon, N. (2 February 2016). Ai Weiwei’s Photo Reenacting a Child Refugee’s Death Should Not Exist. HyperAllergic. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://hyperallergic.com/272881/ai-weiweis-photo-reenacting-a-child-refugees-death-should-not-exist/
8. Field, J. R. C. (2010). Bridging the Gap Between Refugee Rights and Reality: a Proposal for Developing International Duties in the Refugee Context. International Journal of Refugee Law, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 512–557. DOI: 10.1093/ijrl/eeq035

9. Leow, P. (20 June 2018). Ai Weiwei's Refugee Crisis Artworks Are Looking For a Home. Surface. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/ai-weiwei-refugee-crisis-artworks-charity-ebay-sale/
10. Lesser, C. (2017). Ai Weiwei Installs Fences across New York, Making Locals Face the Refugee Crisis. Artsy. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-ai-weiwei-installs-fences-new-york-making-locals-face-refugee-crisis
11. McGrath, K. (2018). Ai Weiwei Honors World Refugee Day by Making His Art More Accessible Than Ever Before. Architectural Digest. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/ai-weiwei-honors-world-refugee-day-making-art-more-accessible
12. Nimptsch, E. (22 October 2018). Ai Weiwei’s Fraught and Folkloric Life Cycle. Riot Material. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.riotmaterial.com/ai-weiwei-life-cycle/
13. Phaidon. Where is Ai Weiwei showing his new migrant artwork? Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2017/march/14/where-is-ai-weiwei-showing-his-new-migrant-artwork/
14. Tang Contemporary. Refutation. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.tangcontemporary.com/refutationen
15. The Famous People. Ai Weiwei Biography. Access date: 26.05.2021. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ai-weiwei-41000.php
16. VOANEWS (2017). Chinese Artist Ai Brings New Refugee-themed Piece to Prague. Access date: 11.05.2017. https://www.voanews.com/arts-culture/chinese-artist-ai-brings-new-refugee-themed-piece-prague
17. Werft, M. (15 February 2016). Artist Ai Weiwei Unveils Refugee-Inspired Installation in Berlin. Global Citizen. Access date: 11.05.2021. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ai-weiwei-reflects-journey-of-refugees-with-14000/?template=next
18. Wessel, J. S. (2015). On Border Subjects: Rethinking the Figure of the Refugee and the Undocumented Migrant. Constellations, 23 (1):46-57. DOI: 10.1111/1467-8675.12182