Ai Weiwei, Mushrooms, 2026

Created for the MCA’s Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission series, Ai Weiwei's public artwork Mushrooms invites audiences to reflect on the fragility of life during a period of increasing conflict. Forty metres in length, the installation comprises 500 cast-iron combat helmet sculptures.

To create Mushrooms, Ai employed artisans to produce the sculptures based on various 20th-century combat helmets. Each sculpture was made from a single mould and is a meticulous one-to-one replica, featuring the interior cushioning of the original design.

The inspiration for Ai’s monumental work was the German government's donation of 5,000 helmets to Ukraine in 2022. In Mushrooms, combat helmets become a symbol of endurance and survival, drawing attention to the human cost of war.

Located in front of the MCA overlooking Warrane/Sydney Harbour, visitors are invited to walk through the work via the central pathway, observing the differences between the sculptures and reflecting on how peace might be achieved.