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Ai Weiwei’s Top 10 tweets. Born in 1957, Ai learned about life and art through unconventional means. For four years, he "turned out a steady stream of scathing social commentary, criticism of government policy, thoughts on art and architecture, and autobiographical writings." He is as much a sociopolitical commentator as an artist and in this way he wants to show people that the world needs to change. Examples of retweets are: When looking at the last three retweets, we see some contradictions concerning Trump. For artist and political activist Ai Weiwei, it happened in 2008 when he photographed himself inside an elevator. He wrote almost exclusively in Chinese u… By using the internet as his soapbox, he has become a global figure for those without a voice. An activist, a provocateur, and a beneficiary of the art market to an extent few living artists can claim. Ai Weiwei’s activism, alone, is enough to inspire some sort of resistance in China. Ai Weiwei 's activist art raises awareness for the refugee crisis in Europe. I can sense in the U.S., or in Germany, both places I have spent some time living in, where there is a clear tendency to dismiss ideas which may be seen as unsuitable due to its historical content, or where human intelligence and our capacity to face, challenge, and judge ideas is underestimated. Here's the edited conversation. We also see this in the creation of the citizen investigation team, which started online. COVID-19 is the only crisis that confronts the global community, no matter the geopolitics, economic situation, or religious differences. Whether pictures of his middle finger in front of national buildings or a recreation of a drowned refugee, Ai Weiwei is not afraid to shock and confront people with his art works. He was ordered to clean the most primitive latrines. In a passionate speech, Mr Brown – seen as having played an influential role in defeating the separatists at the 2014 referendum – repeatedly attacked the SNP’s record in government. His work has captured global attention and served to bring attention to social injustices, human rights violations and systemic violence. It is important to remember that Ai is not the first artist to convey charged political and cultural messages through art. Independent Lens. London: Pluto Press. Creating work that is both dangerously loud and quietly considered, the artist-activist is a true revolutionary of his time. Tweets and the streets. China is very good in keeping secrets. Over the months, ... That made me become an artist, but also an activist. During this lockdown period, my studio has finished the production and post-production work for three films, which will come out very soon. Retrieved 9 January, 2019. Melinda Gates could become world’s second-richest woman, Attacks against Asian Americans have surged 169 per cent during first quarter of 2021 compared to same period last year, study says, Elderly women stabbed with military-style knife, Liz Cheney’s days in GOP leadership appear numbered, Senator pleased at US government for backing short term removal of patent on vaccines, Figures and documents reveal excessive foreign outings for former official, in final eight months in office, Ms Jenner is running to replace California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom in a recall election, Congresswoman has repeatedly called for the senator to resign. In this article, I am going to try to find out what his actual message is, and how he puts that forward. After the first patients were diagnosed, China covered it up and for quite some time gave misleading information about the nature of the disease. So much of your work is about freedom of expression. In this book, Ai speaks of human life and the global refugee crisis. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is famous for using his art to provoke the authorities in China, but lately, he's been focusing on refugees. Ai Weiwei is also active on Instagram. Ai Weiwei’s blog and Twitter account were used to bring people together and as Ai Weiwei (2012) said: ‘We are always trying to think of a way to get everyone involved’ (Allen, 2012). A lot of videos posted with Ai's book Humanity. However, it looks like Ai Weiwei has put more focus on Instagram. Today, anyone who dares to question the authority of the party or who state their belief in freedom of speech or in human rights could face the same consequences. "We want to end child poverty, the SNP want to end the United Kingdom," Mr Brown, 70, told Labour activists. Sixteen years later they returned to Beijing. He has been vocal and openly critical of the Chinese government’s stance on democracy and human rights. With his work and social media activities, Ai Weiwei tries to inspire and encourage people to fight the repression of freedom and create a better world. Ai Weiwei has long used his social media and fame as a megaphone for his activism. Ai Weiwei is not tweeting himself now anymore but simply retweeting news reports and other people. Where are you living, what’s it like there and how has the pandemic affected your life, personally? “The 2020 election was one of the most secure elections in American history – there is no legitimate reason to change the rules right now to make it harder to vote that is built on a lie,” said principal deputy press secretary Karine Jeanne-Pierre. ", ‘Disingenuous’ former AG and DOJ misled Congress and courts, judge finds, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their decision to end their marriage. "They're fighting a war against the Union, we're fighting a war against poverty, deprivation, ill health, illiteracy. Ai Weiwei on activism in the US, his art response to COVID-19 and a secret Wuhan film . In my view, there should be the right for any idea or thought to be expressed. Retrieved 9 January, 2019. The blog was shut down by Sina on 28 May 2009. As a result, social divisions have continued to widen. In an interview with CBS News, he declares he does not want to bring the Chinese government down, he just wants it to change (Williams, 2017). What I can see is the deterioration of a major power on the edge of collapse. These projects have received the media attention and critique to the way the refugee crisis is handled by Europe. Take for example the recreation of the picture of the drowned Syrian refugee child. One of the films is about the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where over 1 million refugees reside. Ai Weiwei and the Art of Activism by Mary Wang. Before Ai was titled the most controversial Chinese artist, followed by a number of criminal accusations and charges, he was a young boy sent in exile with his family due to his father’s poetry. Ai Weiwei: The Artwork that made me the most dangerous person in China. Regardless of your political affiliation, you will end up [like] a Nazi if you can’t allow certain ideas from being expressed. https://www.theartstory.org/artist/ai-weiwei/life-and-legacy As Castells would argue that networked social movements are leaderless, Gerbaudo argues differently. It suggests that more unthinkable events could follow. Censorship and human rights violations are the main subjects of Ai Weiwei's critiques of the Chinese government. (2018). Allen, D. (2012). New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. My experience is not unique in China. However, many people from the investigation team were arrested and information was deleted. Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist and activist. What are you working on now, what's next? The way in which he does that, unafraid of authority or criticism, is what probably appeals most to people. He is not tweeting anymore like he used to do between 2009 and 2013, addressing human rights and freedom of speech, especially concerning China. The man is an artist, a radical, and a human rights activist. The film, directed by Cheryl Haines, co-directed by Gina Leibrecht and available to stream through select theater websites, explores the Chinese artist and human rights activist’s 2014 public art intervention, “@Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz.” And it has much to say about prisoners of conscience and the role of art in both promoting freedom of expression and providing salve to the wrongfully incarcerated. Creatures of Politics: Media, Message, and the American Presidency. With posts about his book Humanity, the focus has shifted from only China to the whole Western world and its refugee crisis. December 13, 2016. Imprisoned by Chinese authorities in 2011 without cause, Ai has dedicated his life and career to speaking out against human-rights violations around the globe. I tell you this – given their obsession with independence, economic inequality and social injustice would last until doomsday if the SNP is all that confronts it. He is also extensively active in the fields of architecture, sculpture, photography, and filmmaking. He said the party had been unable to address problem with mental health services, NHS waiting lists, social care and plummeting standards in education over their 14 years in government, so would "never solve the problems now" amid the challenges of the Covid pandemic. It is endless, but that’s fate. Silverstein, M. (2003). Of course, his social media is another infrastructure where Ai Weiwei produces 'message'. In all cases they are originated by a call to action from the space of flows that aims to create an instant community of insurgent practice in the space of places’ (Castells, 2013). His art works are mostly related to political issues and events. “This left a huge shadow on me,” he says in the film. He is retweeting tweets that are against Trump, but are also in favor of Trump. There is a long history of countless writers and intellectuals who were put in jail, exiled or who simply disappeared. This stands out in the media which is mostly controlled by the Chinese government. When looking at his Twitter account today, we could say that he is not really ‘on message’ anymore. In this rare speaking engagement, hear from celebrated visual artist, filmmaker, and political activist Ai Weiwei as he explores his vast body of work in the context of social justice. In this case that is Ai Weiwei, who instructed participants to search for lost lives. 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