Ai Wei Wei (Video)

("Ai Weiwei Abroad: China's Dissident Artist in Residence." Tremr. N.p., 25 Aug. 2015. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <https://www.tremr.com/joshuajthurston/ai-weiwei-abroad-chinas-dissident-artist-in-residence>. )

1, Ai Wei Wei was enprisoned by Chinese authority in Beijing so that he can not attend the inauguration of circle of animal and zodiac head in NYC.

("‘Ai Weiwei: According to What?’ at the Hirshhorn." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/slideshow/multimedia-ai_weiwei/>. )

2, Unlike other Chinese artists who follow their ideas when producing artworks, Weiwei gets ideas from his aimless working. He start to work with no idea in brain and he can gradually get some ideas during the process. The way of Weiwei inspired me a lot. I can stop wasting time on getting ideas from nothing with my markers in hand. I can get ideas from things I draw in explorative sketches.

("Go See the Ai Weiwei Exhibit at the Hirshhorn! « Sunshine+Design." Sunshine+Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://www.sunshineanddesign.com/go-see-the-weiwei-exhibit-at-the-hirshhorn/>. )

3. Weiwei is not someone new to me. I know Weiwei when I was in China because Weiwei used to be popular in China, esecially in the age group of young people. Many followers of his art, or the culture he made, even call Weiwei as "Ai God". Many volunteers use spare time to go to Weiwei's studio to help Weiwei with art making, although they are non-artists. The reason why Weiwei is so attractive is that Weiwei did use his artworks and films to reflect the dark side of the Chinese Communist government. In China where people are not allowed to speak what they want, people eagerly want to know the truth of things happening around them or in the nation. Weiwei also pay for his reputation among crowds of Chinese citizens. He was arrested several times by police and even was not allow to speak for several months.

("President Obama’s Dragnet (New York Times Editorial)." - Democratic Underground. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022960012>. )

4. One of his famous artwork I like the most is the marble security camera. Because I realize there are more meanings lying behind the object to make it controvertial. Security Camera in the real world represent supervising, also symbolize some invisible people is stealing freedom from the victims. However, this security camera is made with marble. Therefore the invisible people lose their power and the people having been long under their controls regain their rights.

5. Ai Weiwei's atitude toward art is ambiguous. He does not acknowledge himself as an artist sometimes. And when people ask him why he decided to be an artist, he start to think and do not know what to say. In his world, he is just doing things.