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Russian Ballistic Missiles Destroy Warehouse Holding Ai Weiwei Artwork Near Kyiv
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A warehouse housing an installation by internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was destroyed during a Russian missile attack on the Kyiv region on July 19, the artist said.
He stated that the warehouse, located in the Bucha district on the outskirts of Kyiv, was hit by two ballistic missiles during the Russian attack.
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The facility contained Ai’s installation Three Perfectly Proportioned Spheres and Camouflage Uniforms Painted White. The extent of the damage to the artwork itself remains unclear.
World-renowned Chinese dissident artist and sculptor Ai Weiwei presented his first major installation in Ukraine in fall 2025. Titled Three Perfectly Proportioned Spheres and Camouflage Uniforms Painted White, the work explores themes of war and concealment, as well as the tension between ideals of rational order and the realities of contemporary war.
Created specifically for its presentation in Ukraine, the installation was unveiled at Pavilion 13, a multidisciplinary cultural venue. The work reflects Ai’s longstanding humanist and pacifist perspective, shaped by his experiences with state repression and his broader artistic exploration of violence, displacement, and political power.
Ai Weiwei is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary art, combining artistic practice with outspoken criticism of authoritarianism and political repression.
His work has been exhibited at major international events and institutions, including the Venice Biennale, Documenta, and the São Paulo Biennial. Ai’s personal history has also been shaped by persecution by the Chinese authorities, beginning with the targeting of his family.
The reported destruction of the warehouse comes as Ukraine’s cultural sector continues to document the impact of Russia’s war on art and cultural heritage.
In May, an exhibition highlighting the work of photographers and documentary creators covering war and its human consequences under extreme conditions opened at the Cannes Film Festival, according to the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers.
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