Ai Weiwei

Ai WeiWei (3)

Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist and activist. Ai grew up in the far north-west of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father’s exile. As an activist, he has been openly critical of the Chinese Government’s stance on democracy and human rights. He investigated government corruption and cover-ups, notably the Sichuan schools corruption scandal following the collapse of “tofu-dreg schools” in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. On April 3, 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport for “economic crimes”. He was detained for 81 days without charge. After being allowed to leave China in 2015, he has lived in Berlin, Germany, and, since 2019, in Cambridge, UK and Portugal with his family, working and traveling internationally.

A Thousand Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir is one of the most anticipated books of the century and was published on November 2, 2021.

Books

Zodiac by Ai Weiwei

Zodiac by Ai Weiwei

Zodiac | A Graphic Memoir, by renowned artist Ai Weiwei, is an exquisitely illustrated and profoundly philosophical graphic memoir, that delves into the intricate relationship between artistic expression and intellectual freedom, using the Chinese zodiac as a thought-provoking framework. Inspired by the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac and their associated human characteristics, Ai Weiwei masterfully interweaves ancient Chinese folklore with stories of his life, family, and career.
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1000 Years of Joy and Sorrow by Al Wei Wei

A Thousand Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei

A Thousand Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir, written by Ai Weiwei, was published on November 2, 2021. The book chronicles Ai Weiwei’s early years and the myriad forces that have shaped modern China. Recounting the memories of Weiwei’s childhood spent in exile with his father, poet Ai Qing, who Mao Zedong branded a “rightist intellectual” for his critical view of the government.
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