Patrick Derom Gallery

Exhibition on view from September 19 to November 14, 2026

Patrick Derom Gallery presents the first major retrospective of Ai Weiwei in Belgium, spread across two venues in Brussels’ Sablon district.

Bringing together iconic works from the 1990s alongside recent creations, the exhibition offers an overview of the artist’s multifaceted practice. Landmark works such as Study of Perspective, Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola Logo, Illumination, and Backpack Snake explore recurring themes of cultural memory, power, and freedom of expression.

A companion exhibition at the Emile Verhaeren Museum (Sint-Amands) traces the unique connection between the Belgian poet Émile Verhaeren and Ai Qing, Ai Weiwei’s father, whose translations introduced Verhaeren’s poetry to China. Together, both exhibitions reveal the personal and intercultural narratives that continue to shape Ai Weiwei’s work.