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.
Awesome news. It’s easy to take for granted our freedom of speech.
Ai wei wei is someone extremely gifted and vocal. Personally with his status, he could well live a comfortable and care-free life, but he is different. There are few with a heart and soul like his.
China has horrible governance. I mean you cant stay like that for long!
lol.. clueless americans
china has a better future than the usa..
you probably have no clue how people in america lived a hundred years ago. you had child labour too..
check out this footage from america mostly new york from the 1860-1910
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzT8EqhuYxA
this is a natural process.. and history is simply repeating itself!
just wait another 50-100 years and china will be the riches country on earth which much better living conditions for everybody compared to the us now
and and most americans will live under worse conditions as many chinese now. jesus.. you already have 40 million people on food stamps..
i just noticed that you are probably not american..
but my point still stands about the american hypocrisy.
It’s interesting that the first place I learned of this news was your blog! Being based in China, and reading about China all the time, I was well aware of the case of Ai. It’s good to see that he has been released, and that you recognize his work. Welcome back to China!
Hello jarvis i just wanna say you inspired me to take photos after i bought my nikon d7000. I’m a newbie with photography but I’ve always like taking pictures ever since I was kid. Also, I saw your video on youtube on testing the nikon D7000 and it was awesome. More power to you, motivated and stay happy.