Ai Wei Wei Launch of Rebar in Gold at Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery November 12 2015

The Royal Academy is currently showing a body of the acclaimed Chinese Sculptor Ai Wei Wei's extraordinary works but last night saw the launch of his Art as presented in another form. Rebar in Gold is an exhibition of wearable sculpture showing at the Mayfair gallery of the fabulous Elisabetta Cipriani  whose collaboration with Ai Wei Wei evolved to become stunning wearable art  (previous artist/jewellery collaborations include those with Rebecca Horn and Erwin Wurm). Made from 24ct Gold the bars are constructed and then bent to create chokers or wrist bands and adjusted by the wearer. The gold bars and bracelets were exhibited in stunning glass and wood cases created by the artist and shipped from China for the launch. The inspiration behind Rebar in Gold was the devastating 2008 China earthquake where Ai Wei Wei was drawn to the contorted steel debris left after the demolition of the schools.The great and the good of the art world turned out to celebrate the launch with Nancy Dell'Olio and plenty prosecco.