Chinese bicycle brand made famous (again) by Ai Weiwei

Shanghai Forever Co. is a state-run Chinese bike company in existence since 1940. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei uses the company’s Forever brand in his controversial works. He has previously cut up hundreds of Forever bicycles and displayed the bits in piles. He has also displayed 42 of the bikes in up-the-wall poses.

His latest work, commissioned as the central display for his ‘Absent’ exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, uses 1200 Forever bicycles.

It is said to symbolise a society in flux.

Weiwei is banned from travelling by the Chinese authorities.