Ai Weiwei on memorials, colonisation, and freedom in art
Does provocative art need an authority against which to react? How does art feed memorials? How do art pieces age?
On 21 April the legendary Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist Ai Weiwei will be at the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College to discuss this and more with Fellow Jeremy Baumberg.
Ai Weiwei will discuss the relationship between authority and art, visibility in the arts, and artistic process and time, in a wide-ranging conversation.
Join us for what promises to be a fascinating insight into Ai Weiwei’s experiences, values and work.
About the speaker
Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. He grew up in the far northwest 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. In 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport on 3 April, for "economic crimes", and was detained for 81 days without charge. He emerged as one of the nation's most vocal political commentators and creators, and makes use of Chinese art forms to display Chinese political and social issues.
After being allowed to leave China in 2015, he has lived in Berlin, Germany; Cambridge, UK; and Portugal. Among many other accolades, he received Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2015 for showing exceptional leadership in the fight for human rights through his life and work.
Online and in person.
