Ai Weiwei - Sunflower Seeds | Artist Interview | Tate

Artist Ai Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds is made up of millions of small works, each apparently identical, but actually unique. However realistic they may seem, these life-sized sunflower seed husks are in fact intricately hand-crafted in porcelain.
Each seed has been individually sculpted and painted by specialists working in small-scale workshops in the Chinese city of Jingdezhen. Far from being industrially produced, they are the effort of hundreds of skilled hands. Poured into the interior of the Turbine Hall’s vast industrial space, the 100 million seeds form a seemingly infinite landscape.
Porcelain is almost synonymous with China and, to make this work, Ai Weiwei has manipulated traditional methods of crafting what has historically been one of China’s most prized exports. Sunflower Seeds invites us to look more closely at the ‘Made in China’ phenomenon and the geo-politics of cultural and economic exchange today.
Sunflower Seeds was on display at Tate Modern from 12 October 2010 - 2 May 2011.
Find out more about Ai Weiwei: goo.gl/mUKYbS
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[@jaidenzhou1303]

Thank you for all for your comments, you guys have made my assignment for art a lot easier.

[@rachellepayay4699]

Same, man... just seeing this video's comment section now in 2021 just makes my presentation so much easier. XD (I'll even quote)

[@theflowgoarchive]

Relatable LMAOOO

[@sunnysu5757]

I'm Chinese and I'm totally touched by the profound layers of this work. The Sunflower Seeds are embodiment of Chinese people yet an output by the Chinese people. They form into one massive body; unanimous as a whole, yet if you look really closely, they have their own identities. As sunflower seeds your destiny is to follow the "sun", yet these seeds will never bloom becoz they're not real, their purpose has been stripped off as it was for the people who made them....I could just go on and on about this work....

[@jctheboricua]

Liked your interpretation.

[@aliwright1016]

Nice ..my rspx x

[@adamkwalczyk]

And the creator of the art can tread upon them.

[@savanahjade5090]

This is profound

[@user-rx8xf5pw7l]

That's right, that's exact the Chinese people.I always empathy with those people, because they are genuine, but that's not my destiny, I won't follow the "sun", and I know I would be "unsound".

[@jpapare]

Many of the people hired to realize production of Christo's work, didn't understand the concept, but when they hung the Valley Curtain and worked on other projects, the hired non-art workmen, reveled in the results. The same thing is happening here with these millions of porcelain sunflower seeds. People working on the project who don't think about concept or contemporary art, find beauty and meaning in being part of the creation process. Great art goes beyond the art world. It just "is".

[@Ceorolus]

Ai Weiwei has gone to the present and historical heart of Chinese porcelain production, brought people together and given them a paid task to complete, and more importantly made a very powerful statement about the history of the Chinese people all in sunflower seeds. I think its astounding!

[@adda7256]

+Charles Russell ïs a stupid!

[@lazzybug007]

yes indeed its astonishing.. He's such a great person ...with so much dept in his art work....his every work speaks for millions of people...I felt heart warmed by his work...I appreciate the work if thousands of people behind this art..there are all true artists...My hats off to all of them...

[@asaidweeman28]

+Charles Russell It's crap

[@kabirchatterjee1157]

+A SAID WEE MAN no it's bulshit.

[@meidy_hillary]

Hello! Please kindly visit my channel to watch the making of President Joko Widodo (President of Indonesia) wood sculpture by Ibnu Nurwanto. Thank you.

[@nepatriots77]

Oh man this brings back nostalgia. I had to watch this as part of my art history class in college (in 2011 or 2012). I remember thinking how beautiful this clip was. Today in April 2021, I just randomly recall this and had to urge to watch this again.

[@ElizabethGonzalez-ec5yi]

I am taking the same Art class, about weiwei work,

[@nepatriots77]

@@ElizabethGonzalez-ec5yi which if i may ask? :)

[@4ngelo213]

What are you doing after art school?

[@jianxinhu6107]

As a Chinese, I'm really touched by these sunflower seeds. Through them, I can feel the deep love of Ai weiwei to his people.

[@recuerdos2457]

Could you elaborate how deep his love to the people?! Thanks

[@bibidelafield1946]

I remember seeing this piece when I was 5 years old and I lay in the sunflower seeds. Now I'm am an A Level Art History Student and this is one of the main pieces we learn :)

[@reagansamse]

I’m an art history student too!! my teacher gave everyone an authentic sunflower seed from one of his exhibits. my ap test is tomorrow lol

[@anthtan]

He's a very brave man to have suffered almost to the point of death at the hands of his government, and yet still continue to make such provocative works. When someone is risking his life to deliver a message, he should at least be listened to, if not agreed with.

[@slermann]

I saw the installation 6 months ago at the Tate. Seeing this video now, knowing that AiWeiWEi is held captive now brought tears to my eyes. FREE AI WEI WEI!!

[@Rosehipss]

makes me want to cry..so beautiful

[@MissCheeri0]

did cry

[@Thisisareme]

"It is going to be some kind of myth in the history of this town". - Ai WeiWei -12:55 Great process of work!

[@vangoventures6513]

Patience, community involvement, love, art!!!!!!!!

[@FelineFaye1]

truely beautiful! When I look at his work, I'm over whelmed with emotions. To think that one of those sunflower seeds was created by individual people, you really start to appriecate it and it's poetic meaning.

[@camtube2000]

For anyone who's confused about why this man has done this act, I'm gonna try and explain, I think his art or the colour that seeps from his work is not the actual sunflower seeds visical form. I think what he's doing is he is reviving culture,history and feeding family's. A town that has no use to a government with no heart. This man with some creativity and a bit of cash has done something quite unique, when this went on expedition we would see sunflower seeds, and when it ends, we won't. But that small town has got so much more from making it possible for some fancy art person to look at that expedition and craft works that means nothing in fact. A seed is something that eventually grows into something beautiful, but this seed is stone so we will never witness the outcome. But it is an inside joke to this man. Because the actual growth will come from the making of the seed, and the outcome the culture bonded around it. That is art from a god who will not get his recognition for many years because lack of understanding and unopened minded people. If you noticed it, then your smart!

[@egeg5428]

Cameron lots of cash

[@kbld1]

As an artist I see this project as political and historical commentary with a measure of public welfare, though I do not view it as "art". Ai Weiwei has a very broad interpretation of the word I do not personally share, and that is OK.

[@recuerdos2457]

You noticed it so that you are smart?! Haha, 😆

[@recuerdos2457]

It could be art, or It could be just another way of money laundering or kick back… not accusing he s doing that, just saying …

[@camtube2000]

@@recuerdos2457 I wrote that four years ago when I was a dumb 18 year old, haven't checked it since or remembered until you just commented. Nice to see a few likes. However I think I was still correct, most art works on the basis of beauty is in the eye of the beholder, meaning there is no set method to be a "good artist". Looking at China and it's politics now, I would emphasize even further into how one person put his village to work in order to make money, turn it into a tourist hall and preserve culture, potentially playing on the fact that fellow cultured tourists won't know what their really looking at, a sharp contrast painting, or a political movement that's actually prevailing a small villages population, economy and history.

[@tubeyou89119]

"Art is a tool to set up new questions." To me, that's exactly the value of modern art, even though I dislike or don't understand some of them. Art should be a tool to force us to have an open mind.

[@braxtondowney7650]

The water powered tree hammers were so cool

[@maxcalder1010]

One of my favorite gifts my mom has given me is a jar of these seeds. Beautiful video ❤️

[@shelleyshao2882]

After the London exhibition, today was my first saw the real thing in Toronto. Completely amazed by how many people put effort into this project, incredible!!!!!

[@olgazhyla3401]

Absolutely genius.

[@kangfu6455]

In the end when those seeds poor in so big empty place really make me cry, we are just so small piece in our country, in so similar characters and it is really sad

[@mimihammani9801]

you are so precious and made in the image of God but the chinese governement never wants you to know that ...nor does any communist regime.

[@artistevivien]

According to Wikipedia: This massive art installation includes over 100 million porcelain sunflower seeds that cover a 1,000 square metre floor with a depth of 10cm in the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall.

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

I am moved nearly to tears by the Sunflower Seeds and what they represent. This art is a powerful statement to the Chinese government and the rest of the world. Ai Weiwei (one man) has made the Chinese government fearful. The Chinese govenment is divided against itself; Divided between, Communism and repression, and Capitalism and Democracy. A house divided against itself cannot stand. The real question is how long will it take and what can we do to help the Chinese people.

[@McChrister]

Wow, this is truly amazing! So much work went into this project.....and made lots of people happy they had a job. The people who made these sunflower seeds start to finish put lots of love and soul in making them and it shows. Just gorgeous, what a production. Great thinking Mr.Wei Wei! Love from Canada.....I am a great fan of your works. :-) XO

[@TheEvelynTurner]

After all this is what art should be about - bring people together who can understand because of this universal language.

[@DesignEnthusiast83]

One needs to understand the meaning of a sunflower seed to the Chinese government to understand why the piece is so sad and why the government doesn't like him.

[@RabiZl]

Thank you Al Weiwei because you exhibition "Sunflower SEDDS" universality of her message adjust my thinking about the people in the context of politics and political life. My thanks to the Tate Gallery as Al Weiwei offered the opportunity to present this magnificent work of art and ideas. The video gives the artwork an extra dimension to his understanding and creation of this work of art makes it an integral part.

[@ho2cultcha]

this is a fantastic video! i love it. i especially like the scene of the girl collecting raindrops and pouring them into her other hand.

[@zixinyan747]

Numerous sunflower seeds, highly populated country. Ordinary seeds, ordinary people. Cheap seeds, humble labour. People were led blindly in the past. But each seed, each person are respectable, as each one was made by virtuoso. Feel sorry, but that is what it is. I never had such a big resonance, he made a great definition of one aspect of China.

[@CarlitoNahual88]

This goes beyond my words. What an amazing work of art and what an outstanding community. And what an unbelievable artist.

[@echoinsahara]

I saw his exhibition five years ago in Knoxville Tennessee. A pile of sunflower seed was the highlight of the exhibition, which I couldn't really understand why at that time. I loved all the other pieces though. And now this explains. Really nice work!!

[@iciukas]

This is something worth respect. Downright incredible. Though I would feel bad walking on those seeds because of all the hard work those people had put in this artwork. If I met Mr Weiwei, I would take an honest bow as he is a genius. I have only one question - how did he manage to pay all those people? Either way, I hope they are all fine and happy in their small town :)

[@rag4877]

i assume a grant from a wealthy collector or museum

[@sammyg7141]

Wow! Cool! Those r alooooot of sunflower seeds... lol! Who else here is watching this for art hw, coz I know I am...

[@m0t0k0kusanagi]

He is kind of the writer/producer/director in that he envisioned the project, found the resources to make the sunflower seeds, the space the exhibit and coordinated all the other people involved in making the final art piece come together. He gets the credit for creating it, but much like a movie there are many involved in the process of creating art; I guess unlike a movie, not everyone gets included in the credits... however, everyone involved seemed happy to have the work!

[@cat830]

Sunflower seeds project is really good , Weiwei is great artist

[@a_perverts_diary]

aiweiwei, you are the fuel of chinese fine art flaring in the art world brilliantly.... as a chinese, as a hong kong people, im so proud of you!! stay stong man, the history will prove you are innocent and you're the greatest modern artist in china!!! luv u!!

[@kennr66]

This is amazing. Just the scale of it is breathtaking and the meaning and the love put into it..

[@balletjesse]

This guy made me cry for a week already。。。I miss this guy。。

[@reneevananrooy321]

Sharpening Van Wager's 'Eye of the Storm'.

[@sandratirtoadmodjo5354]

I love, he is crazy in the good way, most of his artwork are deference with the other and beyond

[@LOTR26]

It moved me so much when I saw in Tate.. even made me tear up a bit. Was just so beautiful and deep.

[@rutilopata8294]

Incredible and so humbling......so touching✨✨✨🙏🏻

[@jjstarrprod]

This video is totally a part of this masterpiece, the last piece to make it complete to the eyes of the audience.

[@jon1444208]

This work gives me goosebumps.

[@twtw7345]

Collective effort makes his art

[@wassonii]

Stunningly beautiful. Thank you very much for posting this. I but wish an ocean didn't separate my person from the installation. Thank you for allowing momentary insight to the process, the people, and the finished work of art. Excellence!

[@danglybit1]

the scale of his work is sublime.

[@RadungMedia]

Truly, truly a great example of being an artists.

[@michelemolinarivideo]

Amazing, I'm fascinated. Beautiful piece of art, fascinating story.

[@davemate2691]

This is BEAUTIFUL!

[@Shweta_D]

I was fortunate enough to visit and experience the sunflower seeds @tate many years ago. The video rekindled the memories ❤️

[@VaheBedrosian]

Thank you for posting this. It is truly beautiful.

[@dolphininuk]

absolutely brilliant! great piece of art and an excellent documentary. I'm so going to Tate to see it!

[@artistevivien]

That’s absolutely insane. I always just assumed they were real sunflower seeds without asking why.

[@celine6032]

the soundtrack during the curing part was littttt

[@skw210]

A great modern art work, it has many layers of meanings.

[@lapissafeiros2238]

Wow! That's incredible!

[@AvelUnderWill]

Ai Weiwei makes me happy.

[@catprevette9471]

Love this project. It takes so much to make a people and a work of art. He combines the two. What happened to all the little sculptures after the show?

[@mndzmkl]

This is truly a great, beautiful piece of artwork.

[@Partyartie45]

What is the song that is playing during the scene with the furnace?

[@mdimbi]

this is totally awesome. think of the beauty of chinese porcelain, the jobs for all these folks, the working conditions, the layers of meaning throughout the project. i am grateful to be able to see this video, would be so exciited to experience the exhibit. heya, lacma????

[@worwantube]

very powerful , very impressive ,not just beatiful but "spirit of people"

[@neuston]

excellent work! release Ai Wei Wei !!

[@niallwildwoode7373]

One of my top art heros ❤

[@carolinejobe9346]

beautiful and enlightening

[@laurajoviala]

Beautiful and heart-warming, besides being interesting ❤

[@yuxili1450]

have been lived in Beijing for 8 years and am now living in London to seek further study and have just visited the exhibition of AI WEIWEI in Royal Academic of Arts. What I want to say about Beijing is, it is quite crowded because there are so many many people there, to seek their future or old dreams, this is where the people, especially the youth can have an opportunity to change what they want. Beijing vs China is like London vs UK. I was taking underground to get off work and go to work, its hard to imagine how bad I feel about the pressure and crowd. However, what can I do? how can I balance my dream and reality? I feel kind of lost in thinking about this. In my field, how can I to expand art? the let more people enjoy the process and beautiful environment in art, that is quite difficult to change, considering the education system, people balance , society, freedom, and social norm about capital and spiritual enjoyment. While I know, every social system has its own ads and disads, you can't ignore Beijing has given to you and help to you even though I know there is much to be done and changed and predicted. Also, people are changing too, so I will give my hope to Beijing.

[@lorenasireno2091]

Assolutamente Geniale!!

[@gregdahlen4375]

for me it will cause me to look more carefully at a sunflower seed shell when I eat seeds in shells. the shells are pretty and it is surprising that a plant can produce so many pretty little shells

[@LDtreebeard]

does anyone know the name of the song playing at 11:06?? its brilliant!! i have to find out..

[@fatym06]

anyone know what's the music played?...it's beautiful....

[@MrCntryjoe]

beyond words.

[@CoreyisBarackObama]

have just came from a damien hirst tate video - after seeing this i feel cleansed - i like ai weiwei

[@Channel-ou9rq]

Wonderful video. My question is how many sunflower seed was made for this exhibition? Does anyone know?

[@sanmuli9037]

unbelievable! beautiful

[@naturefruitmineralwater6307]

고맙습니다

[@Not-tomorrow]

This is incredible.

[@Ottee2]

Wow, some negative comments here. How can anyone fail to see the beauty in this project?

[@om-nj2hw]

Their just filled with anger. It covers their minds and hearts.

[@metisian]

the music is by Domenico Mino

[@iremsencer]

I can't help myself to stop thinking if any of the workers who made this work possible ever seen the finished installation. It's only fair for them to get paid but I feel like there was a chance to revive an aesthetic transformation among these people.

[@alley2405]

Beautiful.

[@phtoed]

beautiful and tender

[@Lydario]

@MeusOrsa Honestly, I think that process is part of the genius of his work. With all the concerns raised in his work, I in no way doubt the sweat-shop aesthetic is something he seeks to employ. The fact the sunflower seeds were so important to hard working rural people during the revolution creates a rather poetic means to the project!

[@roubeshjhumun7452]

This is beautiful

[@kazshliu]

amazing, I hope they'll figure out a way to let more ppl to play in it.

[@kaka-rw4ge]

艾未未非常棒啊！这个视频我看得很感动！

[@mariolemus9226]

great work

[@jasonantigua6825]

I've got some seeds of my own that I wouldn't mind showing off !

[@reuben8912]

@@patricksford More like: do they mean anything to art history to a point where they mean something substantial (like AI Wei Wei)

[@soweboughtacaterham]

Having visited the instillation last week (when it was deemed ‘too dangerous’ to walk on) and after seeing this video I have really changed my view on the piece and feel it raises ethical and artistic questions which might have been deliberately generated in the video by its maker (Tate?).

[@raduapp123]

But without a good idea there were be no art. In any artwork is an artist and others compoents that helps the final piece to be done :). An artist never can do art individually and Ai Weiwei plays in this artwork with this concept, letting people to do the seeds he don't only create a lot of seed in a Museum. More than that he creates interaction with peaople, work for that village and a new story to tell, like the artist said in the video :).

[@innak.2017]

So Sweet.

[@ChristianBenvenuti]

The point is that the whole story told in the video was made possible. While you can argue about that story, this work is not about sunflower seeds.

[@ImahSillyGirl]

OUTSTANDING.

[@davidmeirionowen2210]

Why would someone wouldn't want somebody which promotes China and its values like Ai is beyond me.

[@meganamaya1174]

Is there a soundtrack for the video?

[@gemimashanti4927]

😢 what an artist!!!

[@AlchemistAli]

Thanks

[@cliff_lu]

great video

[@CelineeHu]

In February 2011, a 220-pound (100 kg) pile from Sunflower Seeds sold for $559,394 (well above its high estimate of $195,000) at Sotheby's in London.

[@creative2716]

wow.

[@joses9402]

10:06 is awesome. Which is the song?

[@40paschal]

Did you ever find out the name?