Aj Wej-Wej Loaded Refugees with their Belongings into the National Gallery

“There’s no refugee crisis, but only human crisis. In dealing with refugees we’ve lost our very basic values. In this time of uncertainty, we need more tolerance, compassion and trust for each other since we all are one. Otherwise, humanity will face an even bigger crisis.”

Aj Wej-Wej

Chinese conceptual artist, activist and dissident Aj Wej-Wej through his monumental installation confronts visitors to the Trade Fair Palace with the plight of millions of refugees – an issue that divides our society into “us” and “them”.

Law of the Journey is inscribed into a 70-meter-long inflatable dinghy with larger-than-life figures of 258 refugees, which floats in space and is reflected in a large glass ball. At the entrance to the Trade Fair Palace we see a high crystal chandelier called Travelling Light, and from the ceiling of the foyer hangs an installation entitled Snake created from 5 thousand small children’s backpacks, reminding us of the tragic earthquake in China in 2008 that killed 5 thousand children in negligently built schools. Another part of the exhibition is the piece Laundromat, created from thousands of pieces of clothing and other objects left by the refugees in an abandoned Greek camp in Idomena.

Law of the Journey can be seen in the Large Hall and other spaces of the Trade Fair Palace from 17 March 2017 to 7 January 2018. The exhibition was supported by The Pudil Family Foundation. 

The Pudil Family Foundation is an open non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of Czech and international modern and contemporary art through the realization of innovative exhibitions, research and educational projects. 

For more information regarding the Foundation and our projects, visit www.pudilfamilyfoundation.org.