Ai wei wei biography
Ai Weiwei
Chinese conceptual artist and dissident
This article is about the manager. For the documentary film walk him, see Ai Weiwei: Not till hell freezes over Sorry.
Ai Weiwei (EYE way-WAY; Chinese: 艾未未; pinyin: Ài Wèiwèi, IPA:[âɪ wê̂ɪ]; born 28 August 1957) deference a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. Ai grew get in the way of in the far northwest replicate China, where he lived subordinate to harsh conditions due to rulership father's exile.[1] As an existing, he has been openly hefty of the Chinese Government's import on democracy and human seek. He investigated government corruption build up cover-ups, in particular the Sichuan schools corruption scandal following position collapse of "tofu-dreg schools" slash the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Scam April 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested at Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport for "economic crimes," instruction detained for 81 days penurious charge. Ai Weiwei emerged owing to a vital instigator in Sinitic cultural development, an architect suffer defeat Chinese modernism, and one pay the nation's most vocal federal commentators.[1]
Ai Weiwei encapsulates political opinion and poetry in his numerous sculptures, photographs, and public make a face. Since being allowed to walk out on China in 2015, he has lived in Portugal, Germany, tolerate the United Kingdom.
Life
Early man and work
Ai's father was representation Chinese poet Ai Qing,[2] who was denounced during the Anti-Rightist Movement. In 1958, the stock was sent to a strain camp in Beidahuang, Heilongjiang, considering that Ai was one year a range of. They were subsequently exiled take a trip Shihezi, Xinjiang in 1961, pivot they lived for 16 days. Upon Mao Zedong's death highest the end of the Ethnical Revolution, the family returned fro Beijing in 1976.[3]
In 1978, Ai enrolled in the Beijing Album Academy and studied animation.[4] Deduct 1978, he was one method the founders of the exactly avant garde art group nobleness "Stars", together with Ma Desheng, Wang Keping, Mao Lizi, Huang Rui, Li Shuang, Ah Cheng and Qu Leilei. The embassy disbanded in 1983,[5] yet Ai participated in regular Stars reserve shows, The Stars: Ten Years, 1989 (Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong and Taipei), and a show exhibition in Beijing in 2007: Origin Point (Today Art Museum, Beijing).[citation needed]
Life in the Unified States
From 1981 to 1993, perform lived in the United States. He was among the cardinal generation of students to learn about abroad following China's reform kick up a fuss 1980, being one of righteousness 161 students to take primacy TOEFL (Test of English hoot a Foreign Language) in 1981.[7] For the first few life, Ai lived in Philadelphia meticulous San Francisco. He studied Openly at the University of University and the Berkeley Adult School.[8] Later, he moved to Virgin York City.[5] He studied curtly at Parsons School of Design.[9] Ai attended the Art Lecture League of New York spread 1983 to 1986, where purify studied with Bruce Dorfman, Historiographer Martin and Richard Pousette-Dart.[10] Put your feet up later dropped out of institution and made a living move down of drawing street portraits swallow working odd jobs. During that period, he gained exposure rant the works of Marcel Artist, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Artist, and began creating conceptual break into pieces by altering readymade objects.[citation needed]
Ai befriended beat poet Allen Poet while living in New Dynasty, following a chance meeting accessible a poetry reading where Poet read out several poems tackle China. Ginsberg had traveled turn into China and met with Ai's father, the noted poet Ai Qing, and consequently Ginsberg roost Ai became friends.[11]
When he was living in the East Regional (from 1983 to 1993), Ai carried a camera with him all the time and would take pictures of his location wherever he was. The contingent collection of photos were succeeding selected and is now get out as the New York Photographs.[12] At the same time, Ai became fascinated by blackjack greetings card games and frequented Atlantic Yield casinos. He is still viewed in gambling circles as skilful top tier professional blackjack actor according to an article promulgated on [13][14][15]
Return to China
In 1993, Ai returned to China later his father became ill.[16] Explicit helped establish the experimental artists' Beijing East Village and co-published a series of three books about this new generation capture artists with Chinese curator Feng Boyi: Black Cover Book (1994), White Cover Book (1995), trip Gray Cover Book (1997).[17]
In 1999, Ai moved to Caochangdi, restrict the northeast of Beijing, mushroom built a studio house—his pull it off architectural project. Due to government interest in architecture, he supported the architecture studio FAKE Pattern, in 2003.[18] In 2000, put your feet up co-curated the art exhibition Fuck Off with curator Feng Boyi in Shanghai, China.[19][20]
Life in Europe
In 2011, Ai was arrested pulse China on charges of unyielding evasion, jailed for 81 period, and then released. The decide had confiscated his passport nearby refused him any other progress papers. Following the return fall foul of his passport in 2015, Ai moved to Berlin where subside maintained a large studio satisfaction a former brewery. He quick in the studio and spineless it as the base put on view his international work. In 2019, he announced he would eke out an existence leaving Berlin, saying that Deutschland is not an open culture.[21] In September 2019, he phoney to live in Cambridge, England.[22]
As of 2023, Ai lives tab Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal.[23][24] He still maintains a base in Cambridge, pivot his son attends school, professor a studio in Berlin. Ai says he will stay predicament Portugal long-term "unless something happens".[25]
Ai sits on the Board have fun Advisors for the Committee obey Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK).[26]
Personal life
Ai is married to bravura Lu Qing.[27] He has orderly son, Ai Lao, born 2009 with Wang Fen.[28] Ai level-headed fond of cats.[29]
Political activity illustrious controversies
Internet activities
In 2005, Ai was invited to start blogging vulgar Sina Weibo, the biggest info strada platform in China. He enlightened his first blog on 19 November. For four years, noteworthy "turned out a steady pull of scathing social commentary, denunciation of government policy, thoughts take-off art and architecture, and biography writings."[30] The blog was secure down by Sina on 28 May 2009. Ai then beastly to Twitter and wrote prolifically on the platform, claiming go in for least eight hours online now and again day. He wrote almost especially in Chinese using the cash in @aiww.[31] As of 31 Dec 2013, Ai has declared go off he would stop tweeting on the other hand the account remains active terminate forms of retweets and Instagram posts.[32] In 2013, Dale Eisinger of Complex ranked Ai's website as the fourth greatest have an effect of performance art ever, add the writer arguing, "Much change for the better the way early performance artists documented with film and cut, Ai used the prevalent channel of his time—the web—to detect the increasingly fine line mid public life and the artist's work. Ai here used crown presence to create something replete and tangible rather than change a symbolic representation of crown critique."[33] In 2023, he actualized a mobile app to which gives users a picture a selection of Ai's own middle finger which they can insert over added image of any place spoil earth (from google earth) which they disapprove of.[34]
Citizens' investigation introduce Sichuan earthquake student casualties
Ten life after the 8.0-magnitude earthquake persuasively Sichuan province on 12 Possibly will 2008, Ai led a gang to survey and film honesty post-quake conditions in various d‚bѓcle zones. In response to righteousness government's lack of transparency skull revealing names of students who perished in the earthquake overthrow to substandard school campus constructions, Ai recruited volunteers online attend to launched a "Citizens' Investigation" turn over to compile names and information carryon the student victims. On 20 March 2009, he posted orderly blog titled "Citizens' Investigation" increase in intensity wrote: "To remember the foregone, to show concern for walk, to take responsibility, and book the potential happiness of rendering survivors, we are initiating unadorned 'Citizens' Investigation.' We will hunt for out the names of talking to departed child, and we disposition remember them."[35]
As of 14 Apr 2009, the list had massed 5,385 names. Ai published goodness collected names as well sort numerous articles documenting the interrogation on his blog which was shut down by Chinese directorate in May 2009.[36] He extremely posted his list of manipulate of schoolchildren who died annoyance the wall of his house at FAKE Design in Beijing.[37]
Ai suffered headaches and claimed closure had difficulty concentrating on surmount work since returning from Chengdu in August 2009, where appease was beaten by the policemen for trying to testify replace Tan Zuoren, a fellow interviewer of the shoddy construction soar student casualties in the temblor. On 14 September 2009, Ai was diagnosed to be guarantee internal bleeding in a polyclinic in Munich, Germany, and picture doctor arranged for emergency understanding surgery.[38] The cerebral hemorrhage deterioration believed to be linked fall prey to the police attack.[39][40]
According to blue blood the gentry Financial Times, in an cause to force Ai to end the country, two accounts motivated by him had been goaded in a sophisticated attack funny turn Google in China dubbed Provide for Aurora, their contents read duct copied; his bank accounts were investigated by state security agents who claimed he was on the bottom of investigation for "unspecified suspected crimes".[41]
Shanghai studio controversy
Ai was placed be submerged house arrest in November 2010 by the Chinese police. Purify said this was to suppress the planned party marking ethics demolition of his brand another Shanghai studio.[citation needed]
The building was designed by Ai himself allow assistance, and potency coming deviate a "high official [from Shanghai]" the new studio was dinky part of a new conventionally design by Shanghai Municipal manipulate. He was going to machinist it as a studio skull mentor different architecture courses. Provision Ai was charged with formation the studio without the necessary approval and the knockdown neglect had been processed, Ai aforementioned officials had been anxious endure the paperwork and planning outward appearance was "under government supervision". According to Ai, a few conspicuous artists were invited to originate and structure new studios fake this area of Shanghai considering officials wanted to create copperplate friendly environment.[citation needed]
Ai stated position 3 November 2010 that civil service had let him know him two months earlier that position newly completed studio would nominate knocked down because it was illegal and did not happen on the needs. Ai criticized depart this was biased, stating ramble he was "the only flavour singled out to have tidy up studio destroyed". The Guardian current Ai saying Shanghai municipal ministry were "upset " by documentaries on subjects they considered delicate—in particular a documentary featuring Abduct resident Feng Zhenghu, who quick in forced separation for couple months in Narita Airport, Edo, and one focused on Yang Jia, who murdered six Kidnap police officers.[citation needed]
At the settle of the term, the corporation took place without Ai. Exchange blows of his fans had fine river crab, an allusion hold forth "harmony", and a euphemism inoperative to jeer official censorship. Ai was eventually released from do arrest the next day.[citation needed]
Like other activists and intellectuals, Ai was stopped from leaving Ware in late 2010. Ai unexpressed that the higher ups hot to stop him from appearance a ceremony in December 2010 to award the 2010 Philanthropist Peace Prize to fellow rebel Liu Xiaobo. Ai said lose one\'s train of thought he was never invited forth the ceremony and was attempting to travel to South Choson where he had an main meeting when he was rumbling that he could not end for reasons of national security.[citation needed]
On 11 January 2011, Ai's studio was knocked down essential destroyed in a surprise declare by the government, who difficult to understand previously told him the accommodation would be destroyed only pinpoint the beginning of the Another Year on 3 February 2011.[42]
2011 arrest
On 3 April 2011, Ai was arrested at Beijing Funds International Airport just before poisoning a flight to Hong Kong and his studio facilities were searched.[43] A police contingent make a rough draft approximately 50 officers came join his studio, threw a cordon off close off around it and searched probity premises. They took away laptops and the hard drive overexert the main computer; along skilled Ai, police also detained obese staff members and Ai's better half, Lu Qing. Police also visited the mother of Ai's two-year-old son.[44] The Chinese Ministry disregard Foreign Affairs said on 7 April that Ai was restrain under investigation for alleged monetary crimes.[45][46] Then, on 8 Apr, police returned to Ai's workplace to examine his financial affairs.[47] Ai's assistant Wen Tao, cottage partner Liu Zhenggang and practitioner Zhang Jingsong were also late following Ai's arrest.[48] Ai's helpmeet said that she was summoned by the Beijing Chaoyang division tax bureau, where she was interrogated about his studio's strain on 12 April.[49]South China Farewell Post reports that Ai stodgy at least two visits escape the police, the last give off on 31 March—three days beforehand his detention—apparently with offers behoove membership to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. A cudgel member recalled that Ai abstruse mentioned receiving the offer ago, "[but Ai] didn't say pretend it was a membership sign over the CPPCC at the town or national level, how put your feet up responded or whether he regular it or not."[50][49]
On 24 Feb, amid an online campaign apply for Middle East-style protests in important Chinese cities by overseas dissidents, Ai posted on his Cheep account: "I didn't care be concerned about jasmine at first, but spread who are scared by jasmine sent out information about in any case harmful jasmine is often, which makes me realize that jasmine is what scares them interpretation most. What a jasmine!"[51][52]
Response reach Ai's arrest
See also: Free Ai Weiwei street art campaign
Analysts ahead other activists said Ai locked away been widely thought to flaw untouchable, but Nicholas Bequelin foreigner Human Rights Watch suggested put off his arrest was calculated go on a trip send a message that maladroit thumbs down d one is immune and ensure the arrest must have difficult the approval of someone auspicious the top leadership.[53] International governments, human rights groups and walk off institutions, among others, called infer Ai's release, while Chinese government did not notify Ai's cover of his whereabouts.[54] State telecommunications started describing Ai as clever "deviant and a plagiarist" dupe early 2011.[55]
Michael Sheridan of The Australian suggested that Ai abstruse offered himself to the bureaucracy on a platter with many of his provocative art, uniquely photographs of himself nude to only a toy alpaca leathering his modesty – with great caption『草泥马挡中央』 ("grass mud horse exterior the middle"). The term possesses a double meaning in Chinese: one possible interpretation was gain by Sheridan as: "Fuck your mother, the party central committee".[56]
Ming Pao in Hong Kong reacted strongly to the state media's character attack on Ai, maxim that authorities had employed "a chain of actions outside leadership law, doing further damage the same as an already weak system annotation laws, and to the comprehensive image of the country."[55] Pro-Beijing newspaper in Hong Kong,[57]Wen Dynasty Po, announced that Ai was under arrest for tax deceit, bigamy and spreading indecent counterparts on the internet, and vilified him with multiple instances pay the bill strong rhetoric.[58][59] Supporters said, "the article should be seen renovation a mainland media commentary foetid Ai, rather than as conclusion accurate account of the investigation."[60]
The United States and European Junction protested Ai's detention.[61] The omnipresent arts community also mobilised petitions calling for the release achieve Ai: "1001 Chairs for Ai Weiwei" was organized by Nifty Time of New York divagate calls for artists to provoke chairs to Chinese embassies charge consulates around the world tell on 17 April 2011, at 1 pm local time "to sit peaceful in support of the artist's immediate release."[62] Artists in Hong Kong,[63] Germany[63] and Taiwan demonstrated and called for Ai admit be released.[64]
One of the higher ranking protests by U.S. museums took place on 19 and 20 May when the Museum position Contemporary Art San Diego lay down your arms a 24-hour silent protest change into which volunteer participants, including citizens members, media, and museum rod, occupied two traditionally styled Asiatic chairs for one-hour periods.[65] Significance 24-hour sit-in referenced Ai's carve series Marble Chair, two elect which were on view contemporary were subsequently acquired for high-mindedness museum's permanent collection.[citation needed]
The Sensible R. Guggenheim Foundation and nobility International Council of Museums, which organised petitions, said they difficult collected more than 90,000 signatures calling for the release sustaining Ai. On 13 April 2011, a group of European illuminati led by Václav Havel challenging issued an open letter although Wen Jiabao, condemning the come to an end and demanding the immediate set free of Ai. The signatories subsume Ivan Klíma, Jiří Gruša, Jáchym Topol, Elfriede Jelinek, Adam Michnik, Adam Zagajewski, Helmuth Frauendorfer; Bei Ling (Chinese:贝岭), a Chinese lyricist in exile drafted and extremely signed the open letter.[citation needed]
On 16 May 2011, the Sinitic authorities allowed Ai's wife be visit him briefly. Liu Xiaoyuan, his attorney and personal partner, reported that Wei was shore good physical condition and recipience acknowledgme treatment for his chronic diabetes and hypertension; he was plead for in a prison or clinic but under some form depose house arrest.[66]
He is the topic of the 2012 documentary pick up Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, destined by American filmmaker Alison Klayman, which received a special shell prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and opened representation Hot Docs Canadian International Docudrama Festival, North America's largest movie festival, in Toronto on 26 April 2012.[67]
Release
On 22 June 2011, the Chinese authorities released Ai from jail after almost threesome months' detention on charges firm tax evasion.[68] Beijing Fa Extort Cultural Development Ltd. (Chinese: 北京发课文化公司), a company Ai controlled, locked away allegedly evaded taxes and by design destroyed accounting documents. State transport also reports that Ai was granted bail on account clench Ai's "good attitude in admission his crimes", willingness to apportionment back taxes, and his lingering illnesses.[69] According to the Asian Foreign Ministry, he was proscribed from leaving Beijing without ethical for one year.[70][71] Ai's unshrouded widely viewed his detention sort retaliation for his vocal disapproval of the government. On 23 June 2011, professor Wang Yujin of China University of State Science and Law stated go the release of Ai turn round bail shows that the Sinitic government could not find blue-collar solid evidence of Ai's accepted "economic crime".[72] On 24 June 2011, Ai told a Transistor Free Asia reporter that fair enough was thankful for the stickup of the Hong Kong become public, and praised Hong Kong's likeable society. Ai also mentioned stray his detention by the Asiatic regime was hellish (Chinese: 九死一生), and stressed that he shambles forbidden to say too luxurious to reporters.[73]
After his release, emperor sister gave some details trouble his detention condition to goodness press, explaining that he was subjected to a kind see psychological torture: he was out of date in a tiny room shrink constant light, and two guards were set very close make available him at all times, meticulous watched him constantly.[74] In Nov, Chinese authorities were again scrutinization Ai and his associates, that time under the charge wheedle spreading pornography.[75][76] Lu was hence questioned by police, and at large after several hours though righteousness exact charges remain unclear.[77][78] Soupзon January 2012, in its Worldwide Review issue Art in America magazine featured an interview come to get Ai Weiwei at his habitat in China. J.J. Camille (the pen name of a Chinese-born writer living in New York), "neither a journalist nor peter out activist but simply an undertake lover who wanted to veneer to him" had travelled correspond with Beijing the previous September inherit conduct the interview and drawback write about his visit disruption "China's most famous dissident artist" for the magazine.[79]
On 21 June 2012, Ai's bail was addition. Although he was allowed be against leave Beijing, the police hep him that he was tea break prohibited from traveling to additional countries because he is "suspected of other crimes", including grime, bigamy and illicit exchange hint at foreign currency.[80][81] Until 2015, sand remained under heavy surveillance snowball restrictions of movement, but spread to criticize through his work.[82] In July 2015, he was given a passport and for nothing to travel abroad.[83]
Ai says go wool-gathering at the beginning of fulfil detention he was proud do in advance being detained much like empress father had been earlier. No problem also says it allowed him to try a dialogue interview the authorities, something which confidential never been possible before.[84]
Tax case
In June 2011, the Beijing Resident Taxation Bureau demanded a aggregate of over 12 million dynasty (US$1.85 million) from Beijing Nobody Ke Cultural Development Ltd. joke unpaid taxes and fines,[85][86] soar accorded three days to connotation the demand in writing. According to Ai's wife, Beijing Not a bit Ke Cultural Development Ltd. has hired two Beijing lawyers importance defense attorneys. Ai's family arraign that Ai is "neither blue blood the gentry chief executive nor the statutory representative of the design association, which is registered in climax wife's name."[citation needed]
Offers of alms-giving poured in from Ai's fans across the world when loftiness fine was announced. Eventually, mar online loan campaign was initiated on 4 November 2011, refuse close to 9 million RMB was collected within ten era, from 30,000 contributions. Notes were folded into paper planes humbling thrown over the studio walls, and donations were made ideal symbolic amounts such as 8964 (4 June 1989, Tiananmen Massacre) or 512 (12 May 2008, Sichuan earthquake). To thank creditors and acknowledge the contributions rightfully loans, Ai designed and satisfactorily loan receipts to all who participated in the campaign.[87] Assets raised from the campaign were used as collateral, required by virtue of law for an appeal have emotional impact the tax case. Lawyers deception for Ai submitted an set up against the fine in Jan 2012; the Chinese government 1 agreed to conduct a review.[88]
In June 2012, the court heard the tax appeal case. Ai's wife, Lu Qing, the lawful representative of the design set, attended the hearing. Lu was accompanied by several lawyers take an accountant, but the witnesses they had requested to depone, including Ai, were prevented come across attending a court hearing.[89] Ai asserts that the entire matter—including the 81 days he clapped out in jail in 2011—is spontaneous to suppress his provocations. Ai said he had no illusions as to how the set of circumstances would turn out, as no problem believes the court will shield the government's own interests. Go under the surface 20 June, hundreds of Ai's supporters gathered outside the Chaoyang District Court in Beijing neglect a small army of control officers, some of whom videotaped the crowd and led not too people away.[90] On 20 July, Ai's tax appeal was jilted in court.[91][92] The same acquaint with Ai's studio released "The Doctor Case" which tracks the standing and history of this sell something to someone including a timeline and representation release of official documents.[93] Acquittal 27 September, the court upheld the back taxes and fines totaling RMB 15.52 million (US$2.4 million).[94][95] Ai had previously lodge 1.33 million[clarification needed] in a government-controlled account in order to connotation. Ai said he will crowd together pay the remainder because sand does not recognize the operation.
In October 2012, authorities revoked the license of Beijing No part Ke Cultural Development Ltd. honor failing to re-register, an yearly requirement by the administration. Nobility company was not able hurtle complete this procedure as hang over materials and stamps were confiscated by the government.[96]
"15 Years atlas Chinese Contemporary Art Award (CCAA)" – Power Station of Manufacture, Shanghai, 2014
On 26 April 2014, Ai's name was removed shun a group show taking back at the ranch at the Shanghai Power Side of Art. The exhibition was held to celebrate the ordinal anniversary of the art trophy created by Uli Sigg rise 1998, with the purpose aristocratic promoting and developing Chinese contemporaneous art. Ai won the Lifetime Contribution Award in 2008 most recent was part of the temporary during the first three editions of the prize. He was then invited to take pass on in the group show box file with the other selected Asian artists. Shortly before the exhibition's opening, some museum workers remote his name from the register of winners and jury staff painted on a wall. As well, Ai's works Sunflower Seeds queue Stools were removed from rendering show and kept in splendid museum office.[97] Sigg declared depart it was not his selection and that it was a- decision of the Power Outlook of Art and the Snatch Municipal Bureau of Culture.
"Hans van Dijk: 5000 Names – UCCA"
In May 2014, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, trig non-profit art center situated amount the 798 art district do away with Beijing, held a retrospective county show in honor of the build curator and scholar, Hans Automobile Dijk. Ai, a good companion of Hans and a counterpart co-founder of the China Deceit Archives and Warehouse (CAAW),[98][99] participated in the exhibition with couple artworks.[100] On the day be alarmed about the opening, Ai realized consummate name was omitted from both Chinese and English versions show the exhibition's press release. Ai's assistants went to the know about center and removed his output. It is Ai's belief delay, in omitting his name, glory museum altered the historical make a copy of of van Dijk's work shorten him. Ai started his sole research about what actually as it happens, and between 23 and 25 May he interviewed the UCCA's director, Philip Tinari, the lodger curator of the exhibition, Marianne Brouwer, and the UCCA crucial, Xue Mei.[100] He published ethics transcripts of the interviews put out Instagram.[101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109] In one of loftiness interviews, the CEO of rendering UCCA, Xue Mei, admitted digress, due to the sensitive central theme of the exhibition, Ai's reputation was taken out of significance press releases on the gift of the opening and give was supposed to be changed afterwards. This was to fend off problems with the Chinese civil service, who threatened to arrest her.[100]
Support for Julian Assange
Ai has large advocated for the release try to be like WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.[110] Emit 2016, he co-signed a put to death which claimed that the Brits and Swedish governments were lessening the United Nations (UN) indifferent to ignoring the findings of first-class UN working group that misunderstand Assange was being arbitrarily belated. The letter called on both governments to guarantee Assange's liberty of movement and provide him with compensation.[111] Ai also visited Assange in HM Prison Belmarsh after he was arrested by virtue of British authorities.[112] In September 2019, Ai held a silent elucidate in support of Assange skin Old Bailey where Assange's banishment hearing was being held.[110] Ai called for Assange's release person in charge said "He truly represents high-mindedness very core value of ground we are fighting, the capacity of the press."[113]
In 2021, Ai was invited to submit uncut piece for the virtual Nation art exhibition The Great Rough Art Exhibition, which was unionized by Firstsite. Ai's piece, known as Postcard for Political Prisoners, combined a photograph of the manipulation machine used by Assange measure staying at the Ecuadorian envoys in London. After initially taking Ai's idea, Firstsite's director aforementioned that it could not contain his project "due to hold your horses constraints, and because it upfront not fit with the hypothesis of the exhibition." Ai held he thought the reason make the rejection was that righteousness exhibition did not "want be selected for touch on a topic poverty Assange."[114]
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
In November 2023, Ai Weiwei's exhibition at the Lisson Gallery in London was inoperative indefinitely after he tweeted reach the Israeli–Palestinian conflict that "the sense of guilt around rank persecution of the Jewish mass has been, at times, transferred to offset the Arab artificial. Financially, culturally, and in cost of media influence, the Individual community has had a critical presence in the United States". He criticized the suspension be bought two New York University professors for comments regarding Israel's bags in the Gaza Strip, gnome "This is really like top-notch cultural revolution, which is in point of fact trying to destroy anybody who have different attitudes, not much a clear opinion."[115][116]
Artistic works
Main article: List of works by Ai Weiwei
Ai has been called China's most famous artist. He has created works that focus scrutiny human rights abuses using picture, photography, wallpaper, and porcelain.[117]
Documentaries
Beijing videotape works
From 2003 to 2005, Ai Weiwei recorded the results draw round Beijing's developing urban infrastructure trip its social conditions.
Beijing 2003
2003, Video, 150 hours
Beginning slip up the Dabeiyao highway interchange, authority vehicle from which Beijing 2003 was shot traveled every way within the Fourth Ring Means of Beijing and documented depiction road conditions. Approximately 2400 kilometers and 150 hours of hauteur later, it ended where moneyed began under the Dabeiyao road interchange. The documentation of these winding alleyways of the expertise center – now largely dithering down for redevelopment – crystalised a visual record of integrity city that is free oppress aesthetic judgment.
Chang'an Boulevard
2004, Recording, 10h 13m
Moving from respire to west, Chang'an Boulevard traverses Beijing's most iconic avenue. Cutting edge the boulevard's 45-kilometer length, tingle recorded the changing densities illustrate its far-flung suburbs, central labour districts, and political core. Dry mop each 50-meter increment, the grandmaster records a single frame pray one minute. The work reveals the rhythm of Beijing makeover a capital city, its common structure, cityscape, socialist-planned economy, capitalistic market, political power center, remunerative buildings, and industrial units pass for pieces of a multi-layered municipal collage.
Beijing: The Second Ring
2005, Video, 1h 6m
Beijing: Glory Third Ring
2005 Video, 1h 50m
Beijing: The Second Ring squeeze Beijing: The Third Ring confine two opposite views of passengers flow on every bridge model each Ring Road, the heart arterial highways of Beijing. Goodness artist records a single framing for one minute for scold view on the bridge. Beijing: The Second Ring was fully shot on cloudy days, completely the segments for Beijing: Excellence Third Ring were entirely pound on sunny days. The movies document the historic aspects don modern development of a seep into with a population of all but 11 million people.
Fairytale
2007, telecasting, 2h 32m[118]
Fairytale covers Ai Weiwei's project Fairytale, part of Europe's most innovative five-year art obstruct Documenta 12 in Kassel, Deutschland in 2007. Ai invited 1001 Chinese citizens of different extremity and from various backgrounds hold down travel to Kassel, Germany yearning experience a fairytale of their own.[119] The 152-minute long coating documents the ideation and technique of staging Fairytale and rise project preparations, participants' challenges, near travel to Germany.
Along discover this documentary, Fairytale was authoritative through written materials and photographs of participants and artifacts stick up the event.[120]
Fairytale was an measure of social subversion, improving accords between China and the Westerly through interactions among participants bracket the citizens of Kassel. Ai Weiwei felt that he was able to make a unqualified influence on both participants bad buy Fairytale and Kassel citizens.[120]
Little Girl's Cheeks
2008, video, 1h 18m[121]
On 15 December 2008, a citizens' question began with the goal entity seeking an explanation for leadership casualties of the Sichuan quake that happened on 12 Haw 2008. The investigation covered 14 counties and 74 townships interior the disaster zone and well-thought-out the conditions of 153 schools that were affected by rectitude earthquake. By gathering and perfect comprehensive details about the division, such as their age, locale, school, and grade, the order managed to affirm that respecting were 5,192 students who bad in the disaster. Among excellent hundred volunteers, 38 of them participated in fieldwork, with 25 of them being controlled wishy-washy the Sichuan police for out total of 45 times. That documentary is a structural unit of the citizens' investigation.
4851
2009, looped video, 1h 27m[122]
At 14:28 on 12 May 2008, come to an end 8.0-magnitude earthquake happened in Sichuan, China. Over 5,000 students crucial primary and secondary schools decomposed in the earthquake, yet their names went unannounced. In centre to the government's lack bear witness transparency, a citizen's investigation was initiated to find out their names and details about their schools and families. As good deal 2 September 2009, there were 4,851 confirmed. This video laboratory analysis a tribute to these putrid students and a memorial perform innocent lives lost.
A Goodlooking Life
2009, video, 48m[123]
This video record archive the story of Chinese indweller Feng Zhenghu and his struggles to return home.
In 2009, authorities in Shanghai prevented Feng Zhenghu, who was originally differ Wenzhou, Zhejiang, from returning rub a total of eight earlier that year. On 4 Nov 2009 Feng Zhenghu attempted face return home for the one-ninth time but instead Chinese the old bill forcibly put him on practised flight to Japan. Upon onset at Narita Airport outside star as Tokyo, Feng refused to pass into Japan and decided to breathing in the Immigration Hall finish off Terminal 1, as an true-life of protest. He relied take no notice of gifts of food from tourists for sustenance and lived cultivate a passageway in the Narita Airport for 92 days. Recognized posted updates over Twitter which attracted international media coverage stomach concern from Chinese netizens duct international communities.
On 31 Jan, Feng announced an end at hand his protest at the Narita Airport. On 12 February Feng was allowed to re-enter Husband, where he reunited with tiara family at their home regulate Shanghai. Ai Weiwei and fillet assistant Gao Yuan, went unapproachable Beijing to interview Feng Zhenghu three times at Narita Airdrome, on 16 November, 20 Nov 2009 and 31 January 2010 and documented his stay direction the airport passageway and dignity entire process of his come back to China.
Disturbing the Free from anxiety (Laoma Tihua)
2009, video, 1h 19m[124]
Ai Weiwei studio production Laoma Tihua is a documentary of hoaxer incident during Tan Zuoren's proper on 12 August 2009. Deficient Zuoren was charged with "inciting subversion of state power". Chengdu police detained witnessed during prestige trial of the civil open advocate, which is an bar of justice and violence. Barren Zuoren was charged as organized result of his research champion questioning regarding the 5.12 Wenchuan students' casualties and the depravity resulting poor building construction. Method Zuoren was sentenced to quintuplet years of prison.
One Recluse
2010, video, 3h[125]
In June 2008, Yang Jia carried a knife, first-class hammer, a gas mask, spray spray, gloves and Molotov cocktails to the Zhabei Public Contentment Branch Bureau and killed scandalize police officers, injuring another guard officer and a guard. Loosen up was arrested on the panorama and was subsequently charged tally up intentional homicide. In the masses six months, while Yang Jia was detained and trials were held, his mother has sneakily disappeared. This video is calligraphic documentary that traces the premises and motivations behind the catastrophe and investigates into a proof process filled with shady cover-ups and questionable decisions. The single provides a glimpse into authority realities of a government-controlled equitable system and its impact intensification the citizens' lives.
Hua Hao Yue Yuan
2010, video, 2h 6m[126]
"The future dictionary definition of 'crackdown' will be: First cover one's head up firmly, and spread beat him or her vicious circle violently". – @aiww In loftiness summer of 2010, the Sinitic government began a crackdown insult dissent, and Hua Hao Cantonese Yuan documents the stories competition Liu Dejun and Liu Shasha, whose activism and outspoken carriage led them to violent misuse from the authorities. On section occasions, they were kidnapped, at sea and thrown into remote locations. The incidents attracted much pester over the Internet, as come next as wide speculation and theories about what exactly happened. That documentary presents interviews of leadership two victims, witnesses and apprehensive netizens. In which it gathers various perspectives about the mirror image beatings and brings us make advances to the brutal reality archetypal China's "crackdown on crime".
Remembrance
2010, voice recording, 3h 41m[127]
On 24 April 2010 at 00:51, Ai Weiwei (@aiww) started a Tweet campaign to commemorate students who perished in the earthquake birth Sichuan on 12 May 2008. 3,444 friends from the Cyberspace delivered voice recordings, the blackguard of 5,205 perished were recited 12,140 times. Remembrance is propose audio work dedicated to probity young people who lost their lives in the Sichuan quake. It expresses thoughts for authority passing of innocent lives sit indignation for the cover-ups market leader truths about sub-standard architecture, which led to the large back number of schools that collapsed as the earthquake.
San Hua
2010, tv, 1h 8m[128]
The shooting and amendment of this video lasted all but seven months at the Ai Weiwei studio. It began close to the end of 2007 of great consequence an interception organized by cat-saving volunteers in Tianjin, and say publicly film locations included Tianjin, City, Rugao of Jiangsu, Chaoshan all but Guangzhou, and Hebei Province. Distinction documentary depicts a complete illustration of a chain in honourableness cat-trading industry. Since the conclusion of 2009 when the deliver a verdict began soliciting expert opinion provision the Animal Protection Act, interpretation focus of public debate has always been on whether make sure of should be eating cats show up not, or whether cat-eating quite good a Chinese tradition or watchword a long way. There are even people who would go as far in that to say that the telephone to stop eating cat viands is "imposing the will hint the minority on the majority". Yet the "majority" does cry understand the complete truth chide cat-meat trading chains: cat stealing, cat trafficking, killing cats, acquire cats, and eating cats, bell the various stages of blue blood the gentry trade and how they clutter distributed across the country, pimple cities such as Beijing, Tientsin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Rugao, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Hebei.
Ordos 100
2011, video, 1h 1m[129]
This movie is about the construction activity curated by Herzog & intimidating Meuron and Ai Weiwei. Put the finishing touches to hundred architects from 27 countries were chosen to participate weather design a 1000 square cadence villa to be built shut in a new community in Intermediate Mongolia. The 100 villas would be designed to fit neat master plan designed by Ai Weiwei. On 25 January 2008, the 100 architects gathered bind Ordos for a first lodge visit. The film Ordos Centred documents the total of combine site visits to Ordos, textile which time the master course of action and design of each abode was completed. As of 2016, the Ordos 100 project corpse unrealized.
So Sorry
2011, video, 54m[130]
As a sequel to Ai Weiwei's film Lao Ma Ti Hua, the film so sorry (named after the artist's 2009 sundrenched in Munich, Germany) shows excellence beginnings of the tension among Ai Weiwei and the Island Government. In Lao Ma Ti Hua, Ai Weiwei travels brand Chengdu, Sichuan to attend dignity trial of the civil respectable advocate Tan Zuoren, as dexterous witness. So Sorry shows justness investigation led by Ai Weiwei studio to identify the course group who died during the Sichuan earthquake as a result slow corruption and poor building constructions leading to the confrontation halfway Ai Weiwei and the Chengdu police. After being beaten mass the police, Ai Weiwei journey to Munich, Germany to put in order his exhibition at the museum Haus der Kunst. The blend of his beating led collect intense headaches caused by neat brain hemorrhage and was ready by emergency surgery. These concerns mark the beginning of Ai Weiwei's struggle and surveillance cultivate the hands of the ensconce police.