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Ai Weiwei
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Ai Weiwei
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, he has built a practice that examines the relationship between the individual and structures of power. Drawing upon conceptual art, Chinese history, craftsmanship and contemporary politics, his work transforms objects, images and public interventions into powerful reflections on freedom, authority, memory and human rights.
Over four decades, Weiwei has created some of the defining works of contemporary culture. From Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995), which challenged accepted notions of cultural value and preservation, to Sunflower Seeds (2010), his monumental installation of millions of hand-crafted porcelain seeds at Tate Modern, his work repeatedly questions how histories are constructed and who controls them. Projects including Remembering (2009) and Straight (2008–12) emerged from his investigation into the Sichuan earthquake, combining artistic practice with civic activism to confront questions of accountability, truth and remembrance. More recently, films such as Human Flow (2017) have expanded his focus towards migration, displacement and the movement of people across borders, reflecting a sustained concern for the dignity and rights of individuals worldwide.
Ai Weiwei has been closely connected to CIRCA since its inception. In October 2020, he became the first artist to launch the platform, helping establish a new model for public art that places creativity, dialogue and participation at the centre of everyday life. Since then, he has remained a defining presence within CIRCA’s history, returning through multiple collaborations that have engaged global audiences in conversations about freedom, responsibility and the role of the artist in society.
In 2024, Weiwei 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 he used artificial intelligence as a creative counterpart, the project transformed public space into a forum for philosophical dialogue, inviting audiences to submit questions while exploring the changing relationship between technology, knowledge and human agency. At its core was a principle that has guided his work throughout his career: that critical inquiry remains an essential expression of freedom.
Born in Beijing in 1957, Ai Weiwei lives and works internationally. Through a practice that bridges art, activism and public life, he continues to challenge assumptions, provoke debate and inspire audiences around the world to reconsider the systems that shape contemporary society.