After months of detention in a Beijing prison the Chinese government today released famed Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei on bail. Ai, arguably China’s most well known artist, was taken into custody in April amid a crackdown on dissidents and activists across China.
This is breaking news for the art world but it’s also great news to my ears personally. I’ve been moved by his work and intelligent dissent for quite some time, and became even more interested in his work last year while I was working in China on this project and had my first brush with censorship by not being able to share my work socially, using YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter from China due to the censorship of those services. Also of importance to me, and specifically why I’m sharing this here as a more personal note, is that several of Ai’s closest American friends are my dear friends. I’ve been watching that whole circle of friends/relatives live on the edge of their seats in fear for his well being for months. It’s been horrible. It’s an understatement therefore I’m beyond relieved for everyone involved.
Lastly, if you’re not familiar with Ai Wei Wei’s work, please get familiar. He has emerged as perhaps THE gigantic creative voice coming out of China, and in addition to being a photographer, creates… too many amazing things to mention here (so read his wikipedia page). He is perhaps most well known as the designer of the “Bird’s Nest” stadium that was home to the Beijing Olympics, his Sunflower Seed installation at the Tate in London, and his Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads currently on display at Pulitzer Fountain at Grand Army Plaza in NYC, on 59th Street at the southwest corner of Central Park. Do not miss this if you live in, or are passing through NYC.
More info on Ai’s release here from the Guardian UK.
I especially be pleased about this post. I’ve already been looking crosswise used for this! Thank goodness I came athwart it in Bing. You possess made my own day! Thanks after more.
Yes, remember the Senkoku incident of last fall and current ongoing provocations by China in the South China Sea to get a really clear idea of the future. A future only if China should avoid breaking up as it has in the past, avoid its own aging problems, avoid hyper-inflation, food sanitation problems and so on. Ask Vietnam or Malaysia about how wonderful the Chinese government is.
Comparing China in 2011 to the US 100 years ago tells you something about where China is now. Comparing China to Japan 100 years ago still leaves China in a relatively poor position. China has a very long way to go and many many traps to avoid if it is lead the world. THat takes more than just making profits from selling products invented and designed elsewhere. It takes more than just economic power measured by PPP.
Locking citizens away because they have offended the government may be fine for “Chris”. By the way Chris, have you noticed how many Chinese assume Western names and troll site looking for criticism of China and then respond by attacking others instead of refuting the original article?
Hard to believe Chris is defending the Chinese government in view of what they did to Ai. Chase mentioned “a crackdown on dissidents and activists across China,” and that’s absolutely true. Ai was caught up in the same campaign of suppression of basic civil rights that is now oppressing the Shouwang church (Google it). The connection between Ai’s ordeal and the Chinese government’s war on religious freedom is fairly strong. He was tortured for several days in order to obtain a “confession” of “tax evasion,” and part of his torture included being forced to watch horrific videos of a Christian human rights attorney being tortured. Check out that part of the story at Daily Cristo:
http://dailycristo.com/arts/artist-ai-weiwei-freed-christians-still-imprisoned/
I live and work in China and it’s a sad fact that the majority of people I work with have never even heard of him, or if so, don’t really care that much.
Despite the growing middle class, there’s still an undercurrent of uncertainty about many things (like healthcare, housing etc) and so a lot of the educated population are still concerned about looking after themselves rather than feeling comfortable enough to rock the boat.
AWW is still an inspiration – he seems to literally have no fear.
Hey Chase! I am your big fan come from China, in China many photographer love you and your pictures.
Chinese government can not represent the chinese people.
Thank you very much Chase!