Ai Weiwei’s ‘Good Fences Make Good Neighbors’ is a visualization of the political discussion about migration

World-renowned artist Ai Weiwei tackles the current debate around migration with a series of installations inspired by security fences. The Public Art Fund series, titled ‘Good Fences Make Good Neighbors,’ was set up throughout the boroughs of New York.

The pieces for ‘Good Fences Make Good Neighbors’ were placed in locations in which they stand out and make members of the public feel as though they are being blocked off from something; however, they can still freely access these locations. One installation in Central Park, which looks like a gilded bird cage, is large enough for visitors to explore the inside, while another is designed as a bench with a tall wall behind it. A short fence was wrapped about the Unisphere monument in Queens, and several more sculptures were placed in iconic New York locations.

Ai Weiwei used a variety of fence materials for these pieces. For example, the Unisphere fence uses a synthetic netting that resembles a soccer goal. The artist has resided in New York for 10 years and saw these art pieces as a way of giving back to the city. ‘Good Fences Make Good Neighbors’ opened on October 12 and will remain up until February 11, 2018.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Lead Image: Public Art Fund via Twitter