Ai Weiwei Confronts the Truth of the Unknown in New Year of the Snake Print

Ai Weiwei is ringing in the Lunar New Year with a limited edition Year of the Snake print. Produced in collaboration with Avant Arte, Combat fear with truth is the latest installment in a series of works that reimagine the symbolism of the ancient Chinese zodiac, following last year’s Everyone is a dragon drop.

The 10-layer silkscreen captures the likes of a split-tongued serpentine spirit against a yellow backdrop, emulating the pixel-like splendor of his iconic Lego works. Created in collaboration with printmakers at London's Make-Ready, the strategic overprinting process brings life to each color and adds a rich depth to the surface of the artwork.

Against the searing, red-eyed stare, Weiwei considers the snake, a symbol explored in his previous works, an often misunderstood creature. The piece nods to the legend of the White Snake, a popular love story in Chinese folklore, where assumed deception actually becomes a conduit for truth. “The snake’s actions are not easily interpreted in relation to human living conditions. These characteristics resonate with what lies ahead. They reflect our future with their unpredictability and latent potential,” the artist explained.

For collectors looking to purchase, each edition of Combat fear with truth measures 23.6 x 23.6 inches (unframed) and 26.8 x 26.8 x 1.6 inches (framed). The five color silkscreen print is produced on 410gsm Somerset Tub Sized Radiant White paper and comes signed and numbered with a certificate of authenticity by the artist. The time-limited will be available on Avant Arte for 24 hours only, starting Wednesday, January 29 at 9am ET/ 2pm GMT.

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