Ai Weiwei here reinterprets a set of water spouts that once decorated a fountain water-clock in Beijing’s lavish Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace). The water spouts, which were designed by Jesuit missionaries in the eighteenth century, told time by spouting water in shi, a traditional Chinese unit of time representing one twelfth of a day, equivalent to two hours. They depicted the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, each of which is assigned to years, months, weeks, days, and one shi.

This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Presented by

This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Presented by

This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Presented by

John Baldessari, Beethoven’s Trumpet (With Ear) Opus #131, 2007, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Margo Leavin, © John Baldessari 2007. Courtesy Estate of John Baldessari ©2021

John Baldessari, Beethoven’s Trumpet (With Ear) Opus #131, 2007, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Margo Leavin, © John Baldessari 2007. Courtesy Estate of John Baldessari ©2021

Yeesookyung, Translated Vase, 2013, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Purchased with funds provided by AMOREPACIFIC Corporation, © Yeesookyung, courtesy of Locks Gallery, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA