“Lo stato del mondo? Un atto di follia”. Intervista con Ai Weiwei che arriva a Milano con un’installazione a sorpresa
Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has unveiled a surprise site-specific installation in Milan, created in collaboration with the historic Venetian textile house Rubelli. Located in the Rubelli showroom for Fuorisalone 2026, the immersive work features a large-scale lampas fabric woven with silk and gold threads, depicting symbols of surveillance, censorship, and political struggle such as handcuffs, the Twitter bird, and alpacas.
This project represents a significant intersection of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary political commentary, utilizing Rubelli’s ancient weaving techniques to address modern global crises. In an accompanying interview, Ai Weiwei describes the work as a response to a world gripped by "madness" and violence, arguing that aesthetic beauty and ethical consciousness are the only tools capable of healing societal barbarism.