The interpretive nature of arts allows for a diverse population of admirers; art, in its many forms, is all-embracing. Despite the artist’s intentions, an art display leaves different impressions that adapt to an individual. Worldwide, art progresses in every culture at different rates, but simultaneously creates cross-cultural connections. Ai Weiwei, a Chinese citizen and activist-artist, blended international influences with traditional components of his national territory. Weiwei developed a presence worldwide among artists and citizens that established ethos in his work. His determination for change and fearless character lends itself to living in the spotlight, but ultimately led to his arrest. Skillful social media use allowed Weiwei
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With a growing audience, there will be more individuals both accepting and rejecting an artist’s idea. Artists must stay relevant in their art forms, messages, and followers to maintain their influential presence. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Weiwei was responsible for the architecture, Bird’s Nest, which he now reflects on as a misrepresentation of China as it creates the illusion of a free society: simply an image to the rest of the world (See Fig. 1; Worden, 2016). In the same year, an earthquake occurred in Sichuan, an earthquake-prone province of China, which resulted in the killing of thousands of schoolchildren. The schools collapsed because of a bribe corrupt officials took to use unreinforced concrete and the government not only neglected their responsibility to prosecute these officials, but also to honour the dead (Worden, 2016). From working with the government to working in opposition to the government, Weiwei responded to this tragedy by creating powerful protest art, Remembering, that honoured the lives of these children (See Fig. 2). Because Weiwei refused to watch officials disrespect the families who lost a child, he exposed the corruption of the government and gained popularity by openly disapproving their actions. In China, there are laws that protect human rights, but the Chinese Communist Party is the ultimate controller and overrules these laws (Martin, …show more content…
In 2011, Weiwei was arrested without any established reason that would hold up in court and he was held for eighty-one days (Martin, 2013). Before Weiwei was born, his father was arrested on similar precarious grounds, and it was during this time that he started writing poetry and getting famous (Martin, 2013). Both men were arrested for exercising a freedom of expression the Chinese government recognized as a threat. Hancox (2011) says that “Ai’s visibility in and identification with the West were potentially responsible for his detention and release in equal measure” (p. 286-287). Basically, Hancox is saying that the international connections Weiwei had established caused Chinese officials to target and arrest him in the first place, but these same connections put a lot of pressure on the Chinese government to release him. Because of the unlawful circumstances of the arrest, the majority of members of the art community, international leaders and citizens of China sided with Weiwei and concluded that he did not deserve the treatment. In an interview with Ai Weiwei, he talks about how even the government workers, including the guards and interrogators, were confused by his arrest and as they continued to fulfill their duty, Weiwei taught them about art and they bonded over mutually held beliefs about the government (Martin, 2013). The arrest itself was only a minor setback
With a growing audience, there will be more individuals both accepting and rejecting an artist’s idea. Artists must stay relevant in their art forms, messages, and followers to maintain their influential presence. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Weiwei was responsible for the architecture, Bird’s Nest, which he now reflects on as a misrepresentation of China as it creates the illusion of a free society: simply an image to the rest of the world (See Fig. 1; Worden, 2016). In the same year, an earthquake occurred in Sichuan, an earthquake-prone province of China, which resulted in the killing of thousands of schoolchildren. The schools collapsed because of a bribe corrupt officials took to use unreinforced concrete and the government not only neglected their responsibility to prosecute these officials, but also to honour the dead (Worden, 2016). From working with the government to working in opposition to the government, Weiwei responded to this tragedy by creating powerful protest art, Remembering, that honoured the lives of these children (See Fig. 2). Because Weiwei refused to watch officials disrespect the families who lost a child, he exposed the corruption of the government and gained popularity by openly disapproving their actions. In China, there are laws that protect human rights, but the Chinese Communist Party is the ultimate controller and overrules these laws (Martin, …show more content…
In 2011, Weiwei was arrested without any established reason that would hold up in court and he was held for eighty-one days (Martin, 2013). Before Weiwei was born, his father was arrested on similar precarious grounds, and it was during this time that he started writing poetry and getting famous (Martin, 2013). Both men were arrested for exercising a freedom of expression the Chinese government recognized as a threat. Hancox (2011) says that “Ai’s visibility in and identification with the West were potentially responsible for his detention and release in equal measure” (p. 286-287). Basically, Hancox is saying that the international connections Weiwei had established caused Chinese officials to target and arrest him in the first place, but these same connections put a lot of pressure on the Chinese government to release him. Because of the unlawful circumstances of the arrest, the majority of members of the art community, international leaders and citizens of China sided with Weiwei and concluded that he did not deserve the treatment. In an interview with Ai Weiwei, he talks about how even the government workers, including the guards and interrogators, were confused by his arrest and as they continued to fulfill their duty, Weiwei taught them about art and they bonded over mutually held beliefs about the government (Martin, 2013). The arrest itself was only a minor setback