New work by Ai Weiwei on view in Toronto amid diplomatic tensions between Canada and China

Ai Weiwei is one of the world’s most influential artists and human rights activists, and one of China’s most formidable critics. On February 28, Ai Weiwei: Unbroken opened at the Gardiner Museum, featuring iconic ceramic works, including Sunflower Seeds and Coca Cola Vase, recent works in blue-and-white porcelain depicting the global refugee crisis, and objects in other media, including wood and marble, that playfully subvert notions of traditional craftsmanship and Chinese cultural identity with pointedly political imagery. The exhibition also marks the international debut of a new LEGO zodiac installation. “Through his art and activism, Ai Weiwei calls attention to some of the most urgent and universal human rights issues, including freedoms of speech and migration. This exhibition explores how he has broken physical and symbolic boundaries throughout his career, and highlights how