Artist, critic, and Chinese Communist Party provocateur Ai Weiwei was detained by security personel on his way out of Beijing a few days ago. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Ai, he is a remarkable figure. A conceptual artist in China today who splits his time between making brilliant pieces of art and poking, prodding, and critizing the Chinese authorities. And really doing both at the same time more and more often.
In return the authorities, over time have surveilled, harassed, beaten, detained, and demolished his studios. The picture above is of Weiwei surveying his demolished studio outside Shanghai. And yet he doesn't quit. And more than that he has stayed in China, he continues to live and work there, despite the strict measures taken against him. He could leave and permanently reside in any number of countries, and take up resident artist status in numerous institutions. But he doesn't, or hasn't. He stays, I think, because to leave would lessen the power of his statements and actions. In China, in Beijing (where he permanently resides) he is right up in the face of the CCP.
Check out this very well done short PBS Front Line documentary on him, also Evan Osnos of the New Yorker, has a long piece on him from last year (it is now made available to read without subscription since Weiwei's recent detention.) He helped design the iconic "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, though he ultimately became disillusioned with the spectacle and charade of the Olympics and refused to attend (and earned deep enmity from the rulers of China I'm sure).
I really enjoy his provocative early art work a lot. He has done a lot with Chinese antiques/ treasures. Dismantling and reassembling, painting and defacing, and even downright smashing them.
But really, to me nothing says Ai Weiwei than this piece. And there he stands defiant; gesturing obscenely towards them.
Be well Ai Weiwei, we are thinking of you.
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