Whether at the Mercato Centrale with his series ‘Study of Perspective’, at the Uffizi Gallery with the sculpture ‘Surveillance Camera’ or at the Palazzo Strozzi, iconic pieces of Ai Weiwei’s works are exposed all over Florence. Most impressive is the exhibition ‘Libero’, Ai Weiwei’s first retrospective in Italy, presented inside the Palazzo Strozzi until January 22nd 2017.

“Libero” highlights Ai Weiwei’s incessant struggle for freedom of expression.

The visit starts with a major installation, ‘Forever, Bicycles’ (2003). One of the most emblematic pieces of the artist’s work, it is made of 950 bicycles missing saddles and handlebars, a metaphor of the oppression inflicted to Chinese society.

All along the exhibition, the scenography underlines the artists’ commitment and the purpose of each work of art. In total, more than 60 pieces are presented to the public, including sculptures, photographs and videos.

Since the 1980s, Ai Weiwei has explored various mediums to defend all fundamental freedoms, to expose corruption and draw the public’s attention on urgent matters as the migrant’s situation in the Mediterranean Sea.

As the artist says, “To me, to be political means you associate your work with a larger number of people’s living conditions, and that includes both mental and physical conditions, and you try to use your work you affect the situation.”