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# Ai Weiwei's Public Art Installation Delayed in New York
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/ai-weiwei-zodiac-heads-delayed-new-york/
- Published: 2011-05-03T00:00:46.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T15:41:00.000Z
- Description: Today's official NYC opening of #Ai [http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Ai] Weiwei's sculptural exhibition, #ZodiacHeads [http://twitter.com/search?q=%23ZodiacHeads], has been delayed. Stay tuned for further details.less than a minute ago [http://twitter.com/#!/zodiacheads/status/65037975783878656] via
- Author: Hrag Vartanian
- Tags: News, #image-position-hidden, Ai Weiwei, Michael Bloomberg, New York, Public Art, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-11-17 09:23 (2009-2011)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2011/05/weiweizodiac-01a.jpg "weiweizodiac-01a")

Today, the Bloomberg administration announced that they will delay the unveiling of Ai Weiwei’s “Circle of Animals” public art project at the [Pulitzer Fountain](http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/things-to-see/south-end/pulitzer-fountain.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) located in front of the historic Plaza Hotel.

According to [WNYC](http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/features/2011/may/02/mayors-office-postpones-unveiling-ai-weiweis-heads/?ref=hyperallergic.com):

> There’s no official word from Mayor Bloomberg’s office as to when the plastic and tape will come off the 12 bronze heads standing in a fountain outside the Plaza Hotel. But a security officer watching over the heads said the exhibit would officially open on Wednesday at 8:30 A.M.

Artinfo has a very useful [multimedia biographical timeline](http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/37506/getting-to-know-ai-weiwei-a-multimedia-biographical-timeline/?ref=hyperallergic.com) of Ai Weiwei’s life, and CultureGrrl has also been [updating her post](http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2011/05/ai%5Fweiwei%5Fcircle%5Fof%5Fanimals%5Fla.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) on the situation. Also, since this is 2011, you can follow the Zodiac Heads on [Twitter](http://twitter.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com#!/zodiacheads) or [Tumblr](http://zodiacheads.tumblr.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com).

This unveiling could be a great opportunity for Mayor Bloomberg to demonstrate his support of the dissident Chinese artist and to speak up for human rights and free speech around the world. Stay tuned.

Today’s official NYC opening of [#Ai](http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Ai&ref=hyperallergic.com "#Ai") Weiwei’s sculptural exhibition, [#ZodiacHeads](http://twitter.com/search?q=%23ZodiacHeads&ref=hyperallergic.com "#ZodiacHeads"), has been delayed. Stay tuned for further details.[less than a minute ago](http://twitter.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com#!/zodiacheads/status/65037975783878656 "Mon May 02 13:00:36 +0000 2011") via web [![](http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png) Favorite](http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet%5Fid=65037975783878656&ref=hyperallergic.com) [![](http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png) Retweet](http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet%5Fid=65037975783878656&ref=hyperallergic.com) [![](http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png) Reply](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in%5Freply%5Fto=65037975783878656&ref=hyperallergic.com)[![](http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/1316076402/ABrand_AIWW_Logo_Vector_lg_normal.jpg)](http://twitter.com/zodiacheads?ref=hyperallergic.com)**[Zodiac Heads](http://twitter.com/zodiacheads?ref=hyperallergic.com)**  
zodiacheads

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2011/05/weiweizodiac-01b.jpg "weiweizodiac-01b")

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2011/05/weiweizodiac-01c.jpg "weiweizodiac-01c")

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2011/05/weiweizodiac-01d.jpg "weiweizodiac-01d")

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2011/05/weiweizodiac-02.jpg "weiweizodiac-02")

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2011/05/weiweizodiac-03.jpg "weiweizodiac-03")

*All photos by the author*