Model Type: North American Art

102 ViewsIn this interactive artwork, visitors were encouraged to write postcards addressed to some of the prisoners represented in Trace. Ai has spoken of the deep feeling of isolation that afflicts incarcerated people and the fear that their causes have been forgotten. Yours Truly is a direct response to these concerns—serving as a reminder that their voices and …

116 ViewsWith intricately detailed encrustations of ceramic flowers, Ai transforms the utilitarian fixtures (sinks, toilets, and tubs) in several hospital ward cells and medical offices into fantastical, fragile porcelain bouquets. The profusion of flowers rendered in a cool and brittle material could be understood as an ironic reference to China’s famous Hundred Flowers Campaign of …

123 ViewsAn intimate and evocative sound installation, Stay Tuned invites visitors into 12 individual cells in A Block, where they can sit and listen to spoken words, poetry, and music by people who have been imprisoned for the creative expression of their beliefs—as well as works created under conditions of incarceration. The work prompts introspection and understanding …

98 ViewsIn this installation, the viewer is confronted with a field of 176 colorful portraits laid out across an expanse of the floor. Each portrait—intricately constructed from LEGO® bricks—represents an individual who has been imprisoned or exiled because of his or her beliefs, actions, or affiliations. (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy) Library Learn More About …

138 ViewsThis large-scale installation, located in the building once used for prison labor, is based on the traditional Chinese “dragon kite” and features multiple kites strung together to create a single, large multipart kite. The stylized birds and flowers represented on each kite speak to the natural environs of Alcatraz Island—an important bird habitat—and reference …