Ai Weiwei, Chinese
Safe Passage, 2020
The installation wrapped around the massive columns of the Minneapolis Institute of Art merely resembles orange vines at first, akin to the climbing tendencies of English ivy. Upon further glance, the orange wrappings appear to be vests rather than vines. The life vests are a stark reminder of displacement due to climate change, which can force individuals to flee from their homes and embark on perilous travels to seek out safety. Individuals may be seeking shelter from climate change, but not everyone believes these travels are necessary or legal. As a result, refugees are forced to take unsafe routes to states which could deny them safety due to political and nativist beliefs. These journeys often result in massive casualties aboard unsafe transportation vessels, such as makeshift rafts. The installation prompts us to consider the policies which result in mass casualties, rather than open borders. Label by Eliza Madison