The East Asia Center of the University of Washington, in conjunction with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, is proud to present a series of five rare films by acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei. Known for his work designing the Birds Nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and lately his political activism, Ai Weiwei is China’s best known artist, working in media such as architectural design, film, photography, and performance. These five films are rare, and are being shown for only the second time in the United States.
Ordos 100 is a massive construction project in inner Mongolia, curated by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei, who had previously worked together on Beijing’s “Bird’s Nest” stadium. One hundred architects from 27 countries were chosen to design a 1000-square-meter villa to be built in a new community. The 100 villas would be designed to fit a master plan designed by Ai Weiwei. In January 2008, the 100 architects gathered in Ordos for a first visit to the site. The film documents a total of three site visits, during which time the master plan and design of each villa was completed. As of this date, the Ordos 100 project remains unrealized. 61 min.