Ai Wei Wei
Born: August 28, 1957
Live at Beijing, China
- A contemporary Chinese artist and activist
known for his provocative works that often
address political and social issues.
- He is a son of Ai Qing, a renowned Chinese poet
who fell out of favor with the government during
the Cultural Revolution.
- Ai Weiwei studied filming at the Beijing Film Academy and later moved to the United States,
where he studied at the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
Notes: (When Wei became interested in art, he enrolled at Beijing Film Academy in 1978 and
later on escape from the restriction of China and flew to United States in 1981. Settling in New
York City, he attended Parsons School of Design (part of what is now the New School) While in
the U.S., he was exposed to Western contemporary art movements and began developing his
own conceptual art.)
- Ai initially gained recognition as a conceptual artist in the 1980s. He collaborated with Swiss
architect Herzog & de Meuron on the design of the "Bird's Nest," the main stadium for the 2008
Beijing Olympics.
Notes: (Aside from his artistic endeavors, he is also known for his activism and criticism of the
Chinese government's policies, particularly regarding human rights, freedom of speech, and
corruption. Because of that he has faced government surveillance, arrest, and detainment due to
his activism. Following his release from getting detained for 81 days, Ai faced restrictions on his
movements within China. In 2015, he was allowed to leave the country.Though he still continued
his artistic and activist work while in exile, residing in various locations, including Germany and
the United Kingdom.)
Notable Works:
"Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn" (1995): is a photographic artwork created by Ai Weiwei in 1995.
Composed of three 148 by 121 cm black-and-white photographs, it documents Ai holding,
dropping, and standing over the remains of a Han dynasty urn that was approximately 2,000
years old.
"Sunflower Seeds" (2010): This installation at Tate Modern in London featured millions of
handcrafted porcelain sunflower seeds, each one individually painted by Chinese artisans. It
explores themes of mass production, individuality, and political control.
"Remembering" (2009): After the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, Ai launched a citizen's
investigation to compile the names of the thousands of students who died in poorly constructed
schools. "Remembering" consists of 9,000 backpacks on the facade of the Haus der Kunst in
Munich, forming the sentence "She lived happily for seven years in this world" in Chinese
characters.
"Forever Bicycles" (2011): A massive installation composed of thousands of interconnected
bicycles, creating a visually striking and complex structure. This piece has been exhibited in
various locations around the world.
