Ai Weiwei created Cats (Silver) together with his son Ai Lao, depicting their two cats, Maple and Birch. The work combines a delicate silver foil impression with the artist’s characteristically direct line drawing, resulting in a composition that is both intimate and symbolically rich.

For Ai Weiwei, cats represent independence, alertness, and a spiritual connection between humans and animals — themes that echo throughout his art and activism. As the artist remarked, “Cats have been regarded as psychic animals since ancient times, no matter in China or ancient Greece… everyone can share this happiness.”

This signed limited edition print captures Ai Weiwei’s personal world while reflecting his ongoing exploration of empathy, symbolism, and the everyday.