Ai Weiwei's Middle Finger Project Invites Global Participation

On April 7, the Design Museum in London will open a major exhibition dedicated to Ai Weiwei, his first solo show at the institution, focusing on the relationship between his artistic practice and design. In conjunction with the exhibition, Ai Weiwei has developed a digital project in collaboration with Avant Arte, reviving his iconic series Study of Perspective. Since 1995, Ai Weiwei has photographed himself giving the middle finger to symbols of power, including Tiananmen Square, Trump Tower in New York, and the Reichstag in Berlin. The new project, titled Middle Finger, invites online users to select a location via Google Maps, place the artist's middle finger in front of the chosen site, and take a virtual photo. Images can be saved or shared on social media using the hashtag #studyofperspective, and are anonymously stored on Avant Arte's Middle Finger platform. Ai Weiwei stated, 'We often forget we have a middle finger, or we refrain from using it. I think it's right to remember that this part of the body can be directed against something—an institution or those in power—to let them know, and to become aware ourselves, that we exist.' The platform also offers a high-resolution download of the middle finger image, including a GIF version. On March 30, for 24 hours only, Avant Arte will sell a limited-edition silkscreen print of the new work Middle Finger in Red for €410, with 65% of proceeds donated to the Design Museum.