Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei was born in Beijing, China in 1957. He is a globally recognised contemporary artist and outspoken human rights activist. In April 2011, he was detained by Chinese authorities and held incommunicado for three months. Following his release, he faced restrictions on international travel, limitations on public expression, and ongoing government surveillance. These experiences have profoundly shaped both the character and reception of his work, positioning him as a leading provocateur and dissident voice in contemporary art.

Working across sculpture, photography, and large-scale public installations, Ai integrates political conviction with poetic expression. His practice frequently engages with historical Chinese art forms, repurposed to critically examine contemporary social and political issues in China. In his sculptural work, he often employs reclaimed materials such as ancient ceramics and timber salvaged from dismantled temples, creating conceptual links between cultural heritage and present-day concerns. Through the use of irony, juxtaposition, and repetition, Ai reactivates traditional visual language, reframing familiar symbols with striking economy and conceptual clarity.

Among his most notable works are the photographic series Study of Perspective (1995-2017), which features defiant gestures toward globally recognized landmarks, and his monumental installation Sunflower Seeds (2010) at Tate Modern in London.

Ai studied at the Beijing Film Academy and later at the Parsons School of Design. He has received numerous accolades, including an honorary doctorate from Ghent University (2010), the Skowhegan Medal (2011), and the Chinese Contemporary Art Award (2008). His work has been exhibited internationally at major institutions and exhibitions, including Kunsthaus Bregenz; the Victoria and Albert Museum; Asia Society Museum; Tate Modern; the São Paulo Biennial; Haus der Kunst, Munich; Mori Art Museum, Tokyo; and Documenta 12.

Since leaving China in 2015, Ai has lived and worked internationally, including in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Portugal.