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Show Notes
In this episode, we profile Ai Weiwei, the renowned Chinese contemporary artist whose provocative work blurs the lines between art, architecture, and political activism. We trace his journey from growing up in exile with his father, the poet Ai Qing, to his years in New York City's East Village, where he befriended Allen Ginsberg and played professional blackjack.
Discover how Ai became a vital instigator in Chinese culture, from helping design the Beijing National Stadium (the "Bird's Nest") for the 2008 Olympics to launching a "Citizens' Investigation" into the "tofu-dreg" school collapses during the Sichuan earthquake. We examine the severe consequences of his activism, including his 2009 police beating, the demolition of his Shanghai studio, and his 81-day secret detention in 2011 on alleged "economic crimes".
Finally, we explore his most iconic works—from Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn and the millions of porcelain Sunflower Seeds at the Tate Modern to his recent documentaries on the global refugee crisis, Human Flow, and the COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan, Coronation. Join us for a look at an artist who uses his life and liberty to challenge authoritarianism.