Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is a renowned Chinese contemporary artist, activist, and cultural critic. He is recognised internationally for his thought-provoking artworks, provocative political activism, and unwavering commitment to promoting freedom of expression and human rights. Open in his criticism of the Chinese government, Ai was famously detained for months in 2011, then released to house arrest. “I don’t see myself as a dissident artist,” he says. “I see them as a dissident government!”.  His works often explore social and political themes, challenging the established power structures and shedding light on issues such as censorship, government surveillance, migration, and environmental crises.