Shoes

Ai Weiwei’s works with shoes started in the early 80ies. On Artzine China I found this photo of a “pair” of shoes sewed into each other, entitled “One-Man-Shoe” from 1987. It is said, that this idea was related to his experience as a boy living in the countryside of Xinjiang, where his father Ai Qing had to live with his family due to his banishment. The family was so poor, that the young Ai had no pair of shoes.

found at Art Zine China

http://www.artzinechina.com/

It is ironic of course to finally have shoes, which one cannot wear with both feet. The directions of the shoes are opposing, which would make a straight or decisive walk impossible.

The Galerie Urs Meile provides another piece dealing with shoes dating back to 1986. Here the back part of the shoe is cut as well, glued to a red book. Without wanting to speculate too much I would like to mention two associations that came up when looking at this. One is that the red colour of the book refers to China in a strong way, the other is, that the shoe is stucked to the red book, so the direction of walking is not freely definable anymore. It is depending on the book.

found at Real Time Arts

http://www.realtimearts.net/