Arch

Embodying the very principles of the Brilliant Minds Foundation, Ai Weiwei’s Arch seeks to emphasize our capacity for change. Indeed, the tangible impact of Arch was witnessed first-hand when it was displayed in Washington Square Park from October 2017 to February 2018. In the wake of the project, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed a commission to study public monuments across the city, with the aim to identify 'symbols of hate.’ Inspirationally, Weiwei has proven that all it takes to instigate change is one first step. For the first time since the Second World War, we live in turbulent times when war undermines the basic tenets of European society, climate change threatens to cause further displacement and migration, and Europe’s borderless Schengen zone is under revised scrutiny. Today, 1.7 million Ukrainians have fled their conflict-torn country, a number the EU anticipates rising to 4 million. Global emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic, global warming and ongoing military crises ought to serve as impetus to create a more sustainable, safe, and inclusive world. Now, with more urgency than ever, we should greet migrants and those fleeing peril with open arms. Ai Weiwei’s Arch campaigns for exactly that. Providing an opportunity for Arch to be made visible is absolutely essential for the promotion and protection of freedom of speech.

As Weiwei has said: “The function of art is not about right or wrong, but rather to offer an opportunity for people to make their own judgment.” Public art does not just enrich a community aesthetically, but also raises awareness and prompts viewers to question their own assumptions. As more people access art and see themselves reflected in public spaces, a greater sense of collaboration becomes possible, enabled by the power of connection and representation.