Ai Weiwei

In the documentary “Never Sorry (Klayman Alison, dir.) Ai Weiwei is described as a lover of culture but an artist who breaks the societal norms crossing the line in what government deems controversial and outlandish. Ai Weiwei a Chinese contemporary artist and activist who brings creative line crossing ideas of work to spark conversation on controversial governmental decisions, political climate, and the over powerful government. Age fifty-nine (59) born May 18, 1957 in Beijing, China – his father Ai Qing a famous poet who really shaped the creative opinionated artist many have come to loved today (Ai Weiwei). Within chapters 9 & 10 the common factor of both chapters were government officials, kings and queens of parliaments, rulers of nations, and revolutionary war heroes. Paintings, pictures, sculptures, and other forms of art depictions addresses the sustainability around a political and social activist theme discussed both in the books chapters and DVD. The social confinement implemented by corrupt government, parliament, and rulers; are often depicted as a way of depression…

An individual with a passion for art and a voice that speak against the injustice in society, Ai Weiwei is one of the most influentially talented artist, writer, and activist known in the contemporary period of China as well as internationally. His artworks are reflected and are influenced upon various factors that had played a critical role in his life. These factors as a result lead Weiwei, in the past two to three decades, to produced outstanding artworks. Weiwei works are perplex with deep…

Ai Weiwei is a very unique character. Recently being hailed by Sasha Grishin as “China’s Andy Warhol” (Grishin) and known worldwide for his artistic and political endeavors, he has become a notable person to follow. His recent exhibition has also solidified my view of his purpose in art and the political platform: persecution of any type must not be tolerated. However, let us first look at the differences between the role of contemporary art in both the American culture and that of…

A multi-skilled inventive whose frank perspectives on state suppression in China have landed him more than once in the prison. Weiwei is an expert woodworker and sculptor and is especially known for his creative architecture. Banksy The most infamous street artist of the present day and who is likely the most well-known artist on this list is none other than Banksy. Some portion of the thrill originates from the way that s/he is unknown. It's even skeptical whether the artist is male or female.…

In response to the question: “Can art today be a form of protest?” Matthew Biro says, “In many ways, the obvious answer is “yes.”” (Biro) Ai Weiwei, a contemporary artist, uses protest as a form of art. He resides in China as a critical activist towards the corruption in China. Unlike Augustus, who was born in to a wealthy equestrian estate, Ai Weiwei’s family was sent to a labor camp. Later, they lived in exile for sixteen years. His unfortunate early life in exile birthed a great deal of…

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…

Duchampian Sunflower Seeds Ai Weiwei's photograph titled Profile of Duchamp, Sunflower Seeds represents the face of the French-American painter Marcel Duchamp. This photo was taken in 1983 as a re-imagining of Duchamp's Self Portrait In Profile that was completed in 1958, by utilizing a coat hanger. The photograph's present location is the Moriss and Helen Belkin Art Gallery in Vancouver, and is one of the series of Ai Weiwei: New York Photographs, 1983-1993. The artist personally picked 227…

The artwork of Ai Weiwei encompasses the artist’s relationship with his culture, government and self-identity. The artwork I have chosen is “Sunflower Seeds” 2010, which filled the huge Turbine Hall of London’s Tate Modern. The installation of 100,000 million sunflower seeds also included booths on each side of the exhibit housing video interactive video equipment allowing the viewers to ask questions to Ai that he answered via Tate website. The other installation is in “Evidence” series 2014,…

Since Ai Weiwei’s birth in 1957, his complete life story has sculpted him into the profound artist and social activist that he is today. After his father, a well known poet, was exiled during the anti-rightist campaign, Ai spent his first years in a labor camp. The circumstances of his childhood instilled a voice inside of Ai that would later invigorate his art. Ai explains the conditions of his children as having “no personal rights, no freedom of speech or expression” (Weiwei, 2008). Ai came…

Exploring Weiwei’s and Jonnson art style, I have become aware that both these artists uses art as a deliberate means of communicating meaning. Weiwei’s uses arts as a method to voice his rebellious opinions even when heavy consequence are as a result, to me is admirable. His work ethic and ability to continually fight for his others and human rights is inspiring as he has never given up, and has used his own experiences to fight for what he believes in even more. They way that he creates each…