Why did Ai Weiwei paint a Coca-Cola logo on a Han dynasty urn?

Ai Weiwei painted the Coca-Cola logo onto a Han dynasty urn in 1994 as a way to explore the complex and often fraught relationship between an increasingly modernized China and its own cultural heritage.1

By juxtaposing a symbol of global consumerism with an ancient artifact, Ai challenged the perceived value and sanctity of historical objects in the face of rapid societal change. This work reflects his broader artistic practice of transforming or reconfiguring centuries-old artifacts to provoke critical reflection on history, tradition, and the impact of modernization.1