Sophie McKinnon takes a look at one of the year's most important shows in 798, Ai Weiwei's World Map

Ai Weiwei is known for his tireless engagement with social issues through art, and his efforts have made him the focus of debate and controversy. It’s fitting then that a map of the world should be the focus of his first solo show in 798, as he continues to shine a spotlight on his country’s place on the international stage.

First shown at the 2006 Sydney Biennale, World Map is exactly what the name suggests: a three-dimensional map created out of 2,000 layers of cotton, stacked roughly a meter high, that the audience can wander through. This freedom to interact with the art is key to its effectiveness as a dynamic and thought-provoking piece. The world is laid bare in plain cotton in a gallery located inside the world’s largest cotton manufacturer.

Other pieces in the show also deal with a modern China and its place in the world, and showcase the artist’s uniquely intelligent aesthetic. A pile of sunflower seeds litter the ground in a tidy heap. They are satisfying in their abundance, but also out of place on a gallery floor. On closer inspection, one sees that they are painstakingly crafted out of porcelain. Also included is a partial set-up of Ai Weiwei’s project for the Documenta 2007 art festival, where he brought 1,001 laobaixing to the small town of Kassel, Germany. Ai Weiwei’s belief in art as a vessel for social commentary is obvious, as is his interest in the individual versus the masses.

These pieces express complex concerns but are beautifully simple in presentation. The exhibition is a great opportunity to glimpse the creative world of this important artist.

By Sophie McKinnon

Where: Galleri Faurschou
When: Through Dec. 20
Web: www.faurschou.com