About this work
{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Published by CIRCA on the occasion of "},{"type":"text","value":"A Tree","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" (2026), this time-limited release marks Ai Weiwei's first drawing in more than 50 years. Printed as a one-colour silkscreen with a hand-embossed border, the individually hand-signed edition preserves the intimacy and immediacy of the original work."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Created beneath the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest on the Summer Solstice, "},{"type":"text","value":"A Tree","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" was completed just days after the approximately 1,200-year-old tree had been declared dead by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The encounter took place ahead of the opening of "},{"url":"https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/ai-weiwei-button-up/","type":"link","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Button Up!","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" at Factory International in Manchester, where themes of memory, survival and the enduring presence of history run throughout the exhibition."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Throughout his career, Weiwei has returned to objects that have endured history. Ancient architecture, archaeological artefacts, salvaged materials and everyday possessions become vessels for memory, carrying within them the traces of political, cultural and personal experience. The Major Oak belongs to this lineage. Having stood witness to centuries of human history, it becomes less the subject of a portrait than a reflection on what survives, and what remains to be remembered."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Released alongside the world premiere of an animated interpretation of the drawing across CIRCA's global network of public screens, proceeds support Factory International's year-round programme of commissioning, producing and presenting ambitious new work by artists from around the world."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":""}]}]}
Edition details
{"type":"root","children":[{"listType":"unordered","type":"list","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Time-released limited edition print"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Available between 9 July until 9 September 2026"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Individually hand-signed by Ai Weiwei"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"1-colour silkscreen with a hand-embossed layer on 300gsm Somerset Velvet White paper"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"594 × 420 mm (unframed)"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Arrives with a numbered, stamped and dated Certificate of Authenticity"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"This print will ship in early October 2026"}]}]}]}
Publication information
{"type":"root","children":[{"listType":"unordered","type":"list","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Left Inscription (English Translation) 'For Wang Fen and Ai Lao, I have not made a sketch in 50 years'"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Right Inscription (English Translation) "},{"type":"text","value":"‘","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":"The Major Oak, 21 June 2026, The longest day of the year, This pen, like this 1,200-year-old tree, has run out of ink. Ai Weiwei’"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Published by CIRCA on the occasion of "},{"type":"text","value":"A Tree (2026)","italic":true}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Released between 9 July and 9 September 2026"}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Released exclusively through CIRCA"}]}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":""}]}]}
Payment & delivery
{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"list","listType":"unordered","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"This print will ship in early October 2026."}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"We ship to most countries worldwide from CIRCA HQ in London."}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Orders are dispatched via DHL Express and fully tracked."}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Each edition is shipped in bespoke plastic-free packaging designed to protect the work in transit."}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Duties and taxes may apply depending on destination. In some regions these are collected at checkout, while in others they are payable upon delivery."}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Tracking information is provided once your order ships. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted."}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Full payment, shipping and returns information can be found "},{"type":"link","url":"https://circa.art/support/orders-shipping/","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"here"}]},{"type":"text","value":".\n"}]}]}]}
Public impact
{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Proceeds support Factory International's year-round programme of commissioning, producing and presenting ambitious new work by artists from around the world."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"CIRCA commissions, publishes and produces independent cultural projects. Through its publications, CIRCA creates new possibilities for artists and audiences worldwide. Together, we help shape the world unfolding around us."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":""}]}]}
