Ai weiwei’s installation in ukraine opens in september 2025
Ai Weiwei to introduce a major art installation commission in Ukraine, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s Divina Proportione. Set to premiere on September 14th, 2025, at the cultural space Pavilion 13, the announcement follows the commission by the RIBBON International, which has also collaborated with artist Barbara Kruger for her work titled, ‘Untitled (Another Again),’ in cooperation with Pavilion of Culture and FORMA Architects. The new work, titled Three Perfectly Proportioned Spheres and Camouflage Uniforms Painted White, comprises a series of military camouflage uniforms roll-painted in white, combining the symbolism of purity with the imagery of military.
all images courtesy of RIBBON International and Ai Weiwei | photos by Adam Simons
Commentary on chaos of militarism and conflict
The spheres in the new Ai Weiwei installation in Ukraine are a reference to Leonardo da Vinci’s Divina Proportione, which is a known Renaissance manuscript written by Luca Pacioli and illustrated by the Italian polymath and artist. By combining these spheres with camouflage uniforms painted white, the artist attempts to draw a contrast between the ideals of reason and the real-world chaos of militarism and conflict. For him, the artwork is a commentary about the ideas that came from the Enlightenment period – including rationality, reason, order, and logic – that are now being misused or manipulated. As Ai Weiwei puts it, art becomes a poetic gesture, suggesting meaning without always making it known or revealed explicitly.
Ai Weiwei’s installation in Ukraine is site-specific, specially for Pavilion 13, a work of architecture built in 1967 at the Exhibition Centre VDNG in Kyiv as an exhibition space promoting the achievements of the coal industry of the Ukrainian SSR. This is the artist’s first commission in Ukraine, and the installation grows out of Ai Weiwei’s long-standing interest in the impact of war and conflict on humanity. His previous works comment on the way power systems manipulate ideals and symbols, from the refugee crisis (Law of the Journey in 2017) and corruption and state failure (Straight from 2008 to 2012) to mass production (Sunflower Seeds in 2010) and cultural erasure (Whitewash in 1995). Ai Weiwei’s installation in Ukraine opens at Pavilion 13 in Kyiv starting September 14th, 2025.
Ai Weiwei to introduce a major art installation commission in Ukraine
the work is set to premiere on September 14th, 2025, at the cultural space Pavilion 13
the artist draws inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s Divina Proportione
Three Perfectly Proportioned Spheres and Camouflage Uniforms Painted White is the title of the work
portrait of Ai Weiwei
the work comprises military camouflage uniforms roll-painted in white
exterior view of the Pavilion 13 in Kyiv, Ukraine | from here, photos by Vitalii Halanzha
artist Sam Lewitt’s commission SHUBIN inside Pavilion 13, on display until August 2025
view of Pavilion 13, renovated by ФОРМА (FORMA) architectural office
project info:
name: Three Perfectly Proportioned Spheres and Camouflage Uniforms Painted White
artist: Ai Weiwei | @aiww
commission: RIBBON International | @ribbon.international
firm: FORMA Architects | @forma_ua
space: Pavilion 13 by Pavilion of Culture | @pavilionofculture
location: Akademika Glushkova Ave., 1, Pavilion 13, VDNG, Kyiv, Ukraine
starting date: September 14th, 2025
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