{"product_id":"ai-weiwei-guardian-green","title":"Guardian (Green)","description":"\u003cp\u003ePositioned at the intersection of institutional critique, human rights advocacy, and conceptual rigor, \u003ci\u003eGuardian (Green)\u003c\/i\u003e exemplifies \u003ca href=\"\/en-dk\/collections\/ai-weiwei\"\u003eAi Weiwei\u003c\/a\u003e's unique ability to transform fine art into a vehicle for political commentary. Rather than viewing printmaking as a secondary medium, the dissident artist leverages limited editions to democratize radical ideas, circumventing political censorship through visual dissemination. In this work, the ancient archetype of the \u003cb\u003eChinese Door God (Men Shen)\u003c\/b\u003e is recontextualized as a sharp critique of totalizing state control, placing the artist’s own image at the threshold between state authority and individual freedom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition fuses classical mythological imagery with an expansive network of sociopolitical symbols from Ai Weiwei’s practice. Alongside traditional dragons and studio cats, the print incorporates sunflower seeds, referencing mass identity under totalitarianism, and refugee life jackets from his interventions on global migration. Uniquely integrated into this edition are buttons, a central motif tied to his major exhibition at Factory International in Manchester, symbolizing memory, industrial labor, and human connection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMasterfully executed, this two-color \u003ca href=\"\/en-dk\/collections\/screen-print\"\u003escreen print\u003c\/a\u003e is built upon a shimmering metallic glitter base layer, striking an intriguing balance between rich surface ornamentation and ideological defiance. Printed on heavy 410gsm Somerset Tub Sized Radiant White paper, the work measures 60 x 60 cm and comes hand-signed and numbered from a \u003cb\u003elimited edition of 279\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor collectors of contemporary \u003ca href=\"\/en-dk\/collections\/urban-art\"\u003eurban art\u003c\/a\u003e and politically engaged editions, \u003ci\u003eGuardian (Green)\u003c\/i\u003e represents a crucial artifact of artistic dissent. To learn more about navigating high-value print acquisitions, explore our resource on \u003ca href=\"\/en-dk\/blogs\/news\/collecting-contemporary-art\"\u003ecollecting contemporary art\u003c\/a\u003e or read our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/en-dk\/blogs\/news\/edition-numbers-collector-value-understanding-limited-prints\"\u003eedition numbers and collector value\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ai Weiwei","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57220183851332,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0037\/9214\/2436\/files\/ai-weiwei-guardian-green-1.jpg?v=1788864344","url":"https:\/\/www.artetrama.com\/en-dk\/products\/ai-weiwei-guardian-green","provider":"ARTETRAMA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}