Han Dynasty Vases in Auto Paint is a visually beguiling and conceptually loaded work that exemplifies the paradigm-shifting oeuvre of Ai Weiwei. It is irresistibly subversive, deftly dealing with themes of iconoclasm, globalisation, cultural heritage, and Chinese socio-economic change. The ancient urn is one of the most relied upon motifs in Ai’s iconological arsenal, having first been deployed in 1994. That he continues to use it after twenty years is testament, not only to his consummate satisfaction with the power of its message, but also to its continued relevance.