Cube of tea
(2006)
Medium
tea, wood
Measurements
67.0 × 60.0 × 60.0 cm (overall)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund, 2017
© Ai Weiwei Studio
Gallery location
Asian Art - Chinese Gallery
Level 1, NGV International
About this work
Throughout history, Pu’er tea has been considered to have medicinal properties and has held special statusas a commodity to be collected and gifted. In modern-day China, Pu’er tea is highly valued and is related to social and business success. In the tradition of drying and compressing tea into solid shapes for storage, preservation and transportation purposes, Ai Weiwei has created a cube of tea on a new, surprising scale that represents China’s burgeoning population,international trade dominance and global power.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Beijing, China
Inscription
very heavy; unable to check base for inscription
Accession Number
2015.554
Department
Contemporary Art