Ai Weiwei is one of the most influential artists and public intellectuals of the twenty-first century. Working across sculpture, architecture, film, installation, publishing and social activism, his practice combines conceptual rigour with a lifelong commitment to freedom of expression, human rights and the power of individual inquiry. From his early experiments in New York to major international exhibitions at Tate Modern, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Design Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and countless institutions worldwide, Ai has consistently challenged established systems of power while expanding the possibilities of contemporary art.

Ai Weiwei has been closely connected to CIRCA since its inception, becoming the first artist to launch the platform in October 2020 with a global public intervention that helped define its mission of bringing art and ideas into everyday life. Since then, he has returned through multiple collaborations, using CIRCA’s international network of screens to engage audiences in urgent conversations about creativity, freedom and our shared future.

In 2024, Ai returned to launch CIRCA 20:24 with Ai vs AI, an 81-day public enquiry into artificial intelligence, authority and the freedom to ask questions. Marking the first time the artist used artificial intelligence as a creative counterpart, the project transformed public space into a forum for philosophical dialogue while reaffirming a principle that has guided his work throughout his career: that questioning remains one of humanity’s most powerful acts.

Born in Beijing in 1957, Ai Weiwei lives and works internationally. Through a practice that bridges art, activism and public life, he continues to shape contemporary culture while inspiring audiences worldwide to think critically, act courageously and imagine new possibilities for the future.