Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei; born 28 August 1957 in Beijing) is a Chinese Contemporary artist and activist. His father's side's original surname is 蔣 Jiang. Ai collaborated with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron as the artistic consultant on the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics. As a political activist, he has been highly and openly critical of the Chinese Government's stance on democracy and human rights. He has investigated government corruption and cover-ups, in particular the Sichuan schools corruption scandal...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionSculptor
Date of Birth18 May 1957
CityBeijing, China
CountryChina
If artists cannot speak up for human dignity or rights, then who else will do it?
Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world it is more dangerous. In the west people think it's a right they're born with. Here it's a right given by the government, and one that's not really practised.
I'm most embarrassed at my art shows, even though I don't show it.
To the media, I have become a symbolic figure, critical of China. According to the government, I am a dangerous threat.
As a person, I was born to give out my opinions. By giving out my opinions, I realize who I am. As long as I can communicate, I'm not so lonely. If I cannot travel, or do art, or have company, if they take away all my belongings, it doesn't matter at all.
Through my work and ways of expression, I strive to engage in dialogue with the society that I am living in.
I hope that my work expresses my worldview and encourages people to exchange ideas.
China has a rich history that has spanned millennia. It consists of the histories of many nations and regions.
The demand for individual freedom leads us to different realms, and it enables us to participate in social events.
The biggest obstacle in interacting with China is the difference in perspectives about basic values. These include issues such as human rights, the concept of law and constitution.
We live in changing times, and many people experience the challenges that come with it. In the face of uncertain futures, no one will know what to expect.
The freedom of speech is an important yardstick for a society's level of civilization.
Our lives are bound by physical limits, familial ties, political conditions, and geographical restrictions. Individual freedom takes us beyond them all.
What is important is that we actively express our thoughts and wishes, in every realm that we can access.