Ai Weiwei (b. 1957, Beijing) is one of the most influential artists and provocateurs of our time. He is celebrated for blending Chinese history and tradition with artistic expression and political activism, all within a wholly contemporary practice. Beyond traditional mediums, his artistic work extends to architecture, documentary filmmaking, and large-scale public installations, each serving as a form of human rights activism, cultural commentary, and critiques of the global imbalance of power.&nbsp;Born into exile due to his father’s political persecution, Ai Weiwei's early life was marked by hardship, shaping his lifelong commitment to questioning authority. This commitment has often made him a political target in the past. He studied at the Beijing Film Academy before moving to New York in the 1980s, where he was influenced by conceptual art and artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol. Returning to China in the 1990s, Ai Weiwei emerged as a key figure in contemporary Chinese art while also co-founding independent art spaces and experimenting with radical forms of artistic expression. After years of surveillance and restrictions, he was eventually allowed to leave China in 2015 and has since lived in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Portugal.&nbsp;Ai Weiwei gained international recognition through powerful works such as Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995), Sunflower Seeds (2010), Neolithic Vase with Coca Cola Logo (Gold) (2015), Illumination (2019), and Straight (2008–2012), a poignant memorial to the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Ai Weiwei’s works are held in major museums worldwide and have been exhibited in leading institutions such as Tate Modern, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the Venice Biennale. His relentless pursuit of truth and justice, coupled with his innovative artistic vision, continues to inspire global audiences and redefine the role of art in society. As Ai Weiwei himself asserts, “Everything is art. Everything is politics.”

Ai Weiwei

Dissident artist Ai Weiwei is famous for conceptual artworks that challenge authority and explore the links between the contemporary world and traditional Chinese culture.

https://data.wengcontemporary.com/media/Ai_Weiwei_Study_of_Perspective_in_Glass_set_waS6Nm0.pdf

At the core of his production, Ai Weiwei investigates and questions institutions and regimes by measuring the human existence and human condition in relation to economic, political, and social forces.&nbsp;The middle finger has been a recurrent theme in his artistic oeuvre. His photographic series Study of Perspective (shot from 1995 — 2003) shows the artist flipping the middle finger in front of iconic landmarks across the globe. The gesture represents a universal and concise statement of political opposition and the rejection of any form of oppression against human freedom.&nbsp;This iconic gesture has been translated into an equally iconic Murano glass sculpture, and the result is a powerful yet elegant object. Murano glass, known for its centuries-old craftsmanship and artistic excellence, holds historical significance as a material associated with both fragility and resilience — qualities that parallel Ai Weiwei’s ongoing dialogue on freedom and resistance. The delicate yet bold nature of Murano glass enhances the tension between defiance and vulnerability in Study of Perspective in Glass (2020), reinforcing the artist’s vision through a material that is both ancient and contemporary. The sculpture, made from the artist's own hand-cast, embodies the deep and engaging message of Study of Perspective while meeting the glass' airy and light qualities, consequently producing a rare effect of beauty.

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“ If there is no freedom of expression, then the beauty of life is lost. Participation in a society is not an artistic choice, it’s a need „

—Ai Weiwei