The decision whether these are pure “coincidences” is left to the readers. It is just worth noting that even if they were pure coincidences, they would still demonstrate 1. the artist’s lack of knowledge of the history of art 2. the lack of originality of his artistic concepts.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Fountain of Light”, 2007. Right: Vladmir Tatlin’s “Tribute to the Third International”, 1920.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Template”, 2007. Right: Michelangelo Pistoletto's "Division and Multiplication of the Mirror", 1978.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Ton of Tea”, 2006. Right: Richard Serras “Ton of Prop”, 1968/69.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Table with three legs”, 2006. Right: Robert Therriens “No Title”, 1993.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Divine Proportions”. Right: it’s not an artwork, but the model of a football, which equally consists of both pentagons and hexagons.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Tea House”, 2009 which is now on display in Berlin. Right: Wolfgang Laib’s "Rice House", 2002. Note that just as rice is spread around Laib’s house, tea is spread around Ai’s house.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Cubic Meter Tables”, 2009. Right: Sol LeWitt, 1991.

Left: Ai Weiwei’s “Forever”, 2003. Right: Robert Rauschenberg’s “Riding Bikes”, 1998.

.That was very informative. I don't mind the copycat as much as i do mind the original not receiving credit

Yes this is incredible.  Excellent research!  This would be a very interesting essay.

I find however that most artists that reference minimalism always look like they're ripping off other artists, but that's just because minimalism is so... minimal.

;)

Cheers,

Ben

Any updates?

Allusion is a common technique employed by post dadaist artists...they are more like witty references than a ripoff..great works!!