Ai Weiwei Unveils 'Camouflage' Installation at Roosevelt Island

Artist and activist Ai Weiwei will unveil a monumental public installation titled 'Camouflage' at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park in New York this September, marking his first major public artwork in the city since 2017. Commissioned as the inaugural project for the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy's new Art X Freedom initiative, the installation features an open sanctuary structure draped in camouflage netting, inviting reflection on themes such as vulnerability, protection, truth, and concealment. The camo netting will incorporate animal imagery, referencing the island's history as a wildlife sanctuary, and will shelter the park’s bust of FDR. A traditional Ukrainian proverb about the dual nature of war will feature atop the structure, and visitors will be encouraged to contribute personal reflections on freedom via ribbons attached to the installation. Timed to coincide with both the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, the project aims to transform the memorial into a contemporary platform for artistic and social dialogue. 'Camouflage' will be on view from September 10 through December 1, 2025.