The artwork of Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei is characterised by a desire to critique the political agenda of his home country’s government. Although the social activism Weiwei engages in is criminalised and often censored in China, he has won international acclaim for his work, which has been exhibited in such major cities as London, New York, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. This global admiration is made all the more impressive on the basis that Weiwei has faced strict travel restrictions, resulting in many of his exhibitions being curated from his studio in Beijing.
Weiwei’s emphasis on social activism likely derived from the influence of his father, the poet Ai Qing, whose criticisms of the ruling Communist Party of China caused his family to be excised
Weiwei’s emphasis on social activism likely derived from the influence of his father, the poet Ai Qing, whose criticisms of the ruling Communist Party of China caused his family to be excised