Renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has partnered with Weng Contemporary and Adamson Editions to release the landmark project “After Les Nuages,” a highly anticipated limited-edition print originating from his monumental piece, “Water Lilies #1.” This exclusive project marks Weng Contemporary’s first co-publishing milestone and is expected to be one of the most significant limited editions in Ai Weiwei’s career to date.

Inspired by Ai Weiwei’s striking 15-metre-long “Water Lilies #1,” the print triptych reflects his reinterpretation of Claude Monet's iconic Water Lilies. This is no mere homage: Ai Weiwei’s Lego masterpiece utilises over 650,000 pieces in 22 colours, linking Monet’s impressionist vision with Weiwei’s own complex life experiences. The original artwork’s tranquil surface is intentionally disrupted by a dark portal on the right, referencing Ai Weiwei's formative years spent in a Chinese labour camp in the Xinjiang desert with his father, the renowned poet Ai Qing. The portal evokes the harsh realities that contrast with the harmony of Monet’s ponds in Giverny, expressing themes of censorship, surveillance, and repression.

An Intersection of Art and Political Activism

In “After Les Nuages,” Ai Weiwei engages in a powerful dialogue with the legacy of Monet. By using Lego bricks—symbols of childhood creativity—Ai Weiwei critiques authoritarianism, urging viewers to confront the forces that suppress freedom. His interpretation transcends Monet’s original intent, transforming it into a reflection on artistic freedom, resilience, and the constant interplay between personal history and universal ideals.

Ai Weiwei describes this synthesis as essential: “Without a personal narrative, artistic narration loses its quality. In ‘Water Lilies #1,’ I integrate Monet’s Impressionist painting, reminiscent of Zenism in the East, and concrete experiences of my father and me into a digitized and pixelated language.”

A Rare and Prestigious Edition with Advanced Technological Printmaking 

Strictly limited to 14 pieces, “After Les Nuages” is an extraordinary artwork that is poised to become a cornerstone of contemporary collections. This edition brings Ai Weiwei’s profound themes of beauty and struggle to life in a monumental format, crafted with advanced technological precision. Using an intricate relief printing process with 36 meticulously layered colours on aluminium Dibond blackplate, the print captures the essence of Lego’s unique texture and structure without directly replicating its physical form. This fusion of artistic vision and cutting-edge technology elevates “After Les Nuages” to a new standard of innovation, marking it as one of Ai Weiwei’s most iconic and valuable limited editions to date.

“After Les Nuages” represents an exciting milestone for Weng Contemporary, which joins Ai Weiwei’s Studio and Adamson Editions in co-publishing this groundbreaking project. This collaboration solidifies Weng Contemporary’s place at the forefront of art publishing, connecting collectors with exceptional pieces that redefine contemporary artistic expression.