On Ai Weiwei

This article introduces the career and influence of Ai Weiwei. After participating in the genesis of the contemporary Chinese art scene, the time the artist spent in New York influenced the distinctly political character of his later work. This work directly inspired younger artists to create Beijing's East Village. In 2008, Ai Weiwei's work took a turn for broader political protest outside the art world with his withdrawal from the architectural team for the Beijing Olympics and his project to draw attention to the Sichuan earthquake. The question about Ai Weiwei then becomes whether what he does is a form of social activism or should it all be seen as an all-encompassing conceptual art practice? As well, Ai Weiwei's comments on self-censorship are especially relevant today.