20/07/2026
I recently visited the - Button Up! exhibition at where I also played a tiny part in creating one of the artworks (and can now finally talk & share about it!)
Back in september I volunteered to assemble a couple of plates which made up the large scale artwork History of Bombs. We recreated Ai Weiwei's work entirely out of toy bricks. So exciting to have contributed, even in such a small way, but the experience also gave me a new appreciation for how carefully considered Ai Weiwei’s work is - something I admire and try to implement into my own art.The medium is the message, the choice of material, time, place... it all matters.
The dichotomy of making something that depicts deadly weapons out of toys is striking. The making of the work also mirrored a factory setting: although it was a fun and lighthearted afternoon, everyone was focused on their own small task, unable to see the finished image. It made me think about how easy it is to contribute to something much larger than ourselves without fully understanding the whole picture...and how those contributions aren't always used for good.
Anyway, lots of thought provoking, great work in this exhibition! Go see it if you're in manchester!
