A shout for Ai Weiwei
One of China's most important contemporary artists, imprisoned for over a month without any formal justification from the government, is being honored with an exhibition of his work in London.
247, with international agencies - Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei was arrested a month and a half ago by the Chinese government on charges of financial crimes that have not yet been formally filed. He was detained at Beijing airport while waiting to travel to Hong Kong, the country that will host an exhibition of Weiwei's work. He was held in confinement and without the right to receive visitors until last Sunday, the 15th, when officials authorized a visit from his wife. Ai Weiwei is considered one of the most important contemporary artists today. He is also one of the most influential and author of harsh criticisms of the Chinese regime, of which he was once a supporter.
In his honor and as a form of protest, an exhibition featuring a selection of his sculptures and paintings opened at the Lisson Gallery in London until July 16th. Another venue, Somerset House, hosts the exhibition "Heads of the Zodiac," which recreates the animals of the Chinese zodiac in a reference to the sculptures that stood in front of the Imperial Palace in Beijing in the 18th century and were looted by British and French soldiers in 1860. Of the twelve stolen, seven were recovered. Weiwei created forgeries of one of the country's iconic works.