A sculpture by Ai Weiwei unveiled outside Stockholm's Nationalmuseum evokes the Ukrainian refugee crisis

The influential Chinese contemporary artist and political activist Ai Weiwei just unveiled his iconic sculpture 'Arch, 2017' outside Nationalmuseum in Stockholm in collaboration with Brilliant Minds Foundation. Previously exhibited under the archway of Washington Square Park in New York, the 40ft stainless steel sculpture 'Arch, 2017' takes the form of a silhouette of two entwined figures. It was initially created in reference to the ongoing refugee crisis but has taken on new meaning following the invasion of Ukraine.

Its arrival marks the beginning of an impactful public art initiative in Stockholm led by the Brilliant Minds Foundation. Every June, ahead of Swedish Midsummer celebrations, the global platform brings together thought leaders and entrepreneurs from a diverse array of backgrounds and industries for a conference. Previous guests have included former U.S President Barack Obama as well as the supermodel and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss and environmental activist Greta Thunberg. It was co-founded by Daniel Ek, the founder and CEO of Spotify, and the intention was not only to highlight the thriving tech ecosystem in Stockholm but to entwine the ubiquitous Swedish values of openness, equality and social responsibility as participants find connection and work together towards a more inclusive, creative and sustainable world.

The theme of Brilliant Minds this year was 'change', and speakers included Malala Yousafzai and Naomi Campbell as well as, of course, Ai Weiwei himself. His cage-like sculpture was initially created in response to the ongoing refugee crisis, but he spoke recently in Stockholm of how that has taken on a deeper meaning following the invasion of Ukraine. The war has displaced millions across Europe and further afield. Its new location is particularly poignant given that thousands of Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Sweden in the last few months and a proportion of its foreign aid budget was set aside to help to support them.

The Brilliant Minds Foundation launched its public art initiative in the hope of creating a sense of community as they encourage interaction with the sculptures that will continue to be unveiled across Stockholm in the years to come. The passageway visitors can walk through creates a sense of movement, which references crossing borders. The proximity to Stockholm harbour also aligns with the rhythmic wave-like texture of the surface of the inner passageway and the gentle movement of the waves on Stockholm Archipelago. Walking around it one can see how every human encounter differs - some onlookers take photographs whereas others touch or move around it observing every contour and line. More often than not, they are also talking to one another and asking questions.

Ai Weiwei has always been credited with sparking debate and evoking responses to his politically-charged work. His solo exhibitions at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and Helsinki Art Museum, Helsinki, were all met with critical acclaim. He is a forward-thinking contemporary artist and dissident, but he also looks to the past and makes references to history across his oeuvre. The aforementioned silhouette of two entwined figures was directly inspired by the French Dadaist Marcel Duchamp’s seminal design for the iconic entrance to Galerie Gradiva in Paris in pre-war 1937.

Although the sculpture 'Arch, 2017' will only remain outside Nationalmuseum, Stockholm for a year, it will then be moved to a permanent location within the city. Until then, the winter months await when it will be surrounded by the frozen Stockholm harbour and can therefore be viewed from a new perspective. Although its environment may change in the years to come, the eternal presence of an important sculpture by Ai Weiwei in Stockholm is truly pivotal for the international reputation of its evolving contemporary art scene.