It's a Small World

If you follow this blog, you might remember a post during Year 1 about a walking tour in SoHo. The focus of the tour was street art.  One of the artists was named Wei Wei and our guide knew him and liked what he was doing.

Year 2 finds us in Florence and we came across Wei Wei.  This time, Wei Wei's art was not in the streets.  Instead, Wei Wei is the subject of a major exhibition.

It's a small world.

The world got even smaller when Susan joined a special tour of the exhibition.  The person who organized this local art tour had also guided us during our somewhat luxurious walking tour of Tuscany a few years ago!  She is a professional travel guide who happens  to live in Florence.

It's a small world.   

Here are some photos from the exhibition.  Enjoy. 

Our tour organizer and Tuscan guide Ellen Santucci-Masi.  (Ellen is originally from New Jersey.  Which exit?) 

Wei Wei is from China.  His art offended the government and he was imprisoned for several months.  He no longer resides in China. 

Gallileo's portrait is "painted" with LEGOs.

LEGO Dante

Close up of the LEGOs

LEGO Strozzi.  Filippo Strozzi was a wealthy Florentine and rival of the Medici family.  He wanted to make a statement by building a huge palace in the center of Florence.  He never saw its completion.  He died two years into its nearly 50 years of construction.  The palace is now a museum and hosted the Wei Wei exhibition. 

Self portrait

The exhibition included a lot Wei Wei birds directed at various images of authority that he thinks everyone should question.  Here, Wei Wei is flipping off the building hosting the exhibition. 

A Wei Wei exhibition in Florence is an important step. Here, Renaissance art reigns surpreme.  By adding contemporary art to the mix, Florence will enhance its relevance and already high standing in the art world.  Even if it's small world after all.