How did Ai Weiwei use ancient Chinese artifacts in his artwork?

Ai Weiwei utilizes ancient Chinese artifacts to explore the complex and often tense relationship between China’s rapid modernization and its deep-rooted cultural heritage. By physically altering or reconfiguring these historical objects, he challenges traditional perceptions of value and history.1

His methods include:

• Direct Modification: He has famously transformed centuries-old items, such as painting the Coca-Cola logo onto a Han dynasty urn, creating a jarring juxtaposition between ancient craftsmanship and modern consumer culture.1
• Deconstruction and Reassembly: He has taken furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, breaking the pieces down and reassembling them into new, nonfunctional configurations.1

Through these provocative acts, Ai forces a dialogue about the preservation and destruction of history in a changing society. His approach is influenced by the "ready-made" concepts of artists like Marcel Duchamp, repurposing existing objects to create new, subversive meanings.1