![]() Weiwei was able to take a photograph with the policemen and within minutes it went viral, showing the power of media and Internet that Weiwei uses to communicate with the Chinese society and the world. As result of this Tan Zuo Ren was sentenced to five years in prison as no one could testify for him. He was detained for twelve hours without explanation and therefore was unable to attend the trial. Weiwei was on his way there to testify for Tan Zuo Ren when numerous police members broke down his hotel door and physically abused him. In July 2009 Weiwei was on his way to the trial of Tan Zuo Ren who had been charged with ‘inciting subversion of state power’ by being an earthquake activist. Many children died, including students of the Beichuan Middle School, which was poorly constructed due to the corruption of the government as they tried to cut construction costs. The government refused to reveal the true numbers and names of those who had lost their lives. On the 12th May 2008 China experienced an earthquake leaving thousands dead. This was only the beginning of Ai Weiwei defying the Chinese government and influencing the Chinese society both artistically and politically. ![]() Weiwei reacted against and the government’s censorship and provided artists in China with an education they would not have had otherwise. Later two more books were published the ‘White Cover Book’ and ‘Grey Cover Book’ that contained more politically focused information. They were randomly distributed around the country in underground secret systems and contained information about experimental artistic works of young Chinese and Western artist’s works along with translated texts from the likes of Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol. ![]() Therefore in 1994 Weiwei along with contemporary artists Xu Bing and Zeng Xiaojun published 3,000 books titled the ‘ Black Cover Book’. Access to foreign books, art exhibition catalogues or magazines were almost non-existent. China was under great censorship by the government and this information was inaccessible. The embracement of other cultures in China was not as apparent in the 1990s and when Weiwei returned from having lived and worked in New York there were curious artists wanting to know more about American contemporary art coming to him. Weiwei’s experience in China and the way he uses art to comment on sensitive issues is how he originally became famous and globally iconic. This affected me because I realised that Weiwei wasn’t simply a mere artist but instead he was globally influential as well as influential in China. When asked ‘Why are you so fearless?’ Weiwei responded ‘I’m more fearful because I act more brave because I know the danger is there and if I don’t act the danger will become stronger. ![]() Last year I bought the award-winning documentary about Ai Weiwei called Never Sorry. In this modern era technology allows one to communicate their thoughts instantaneously to an unlimited audience Weiwei uses his artworks to exhibit his ideas, which he shares through social networking sites to communicate his message and influence others to respond despite the government’s attempts to repress his voice. The Chinese communist government has tried to repress his voice by censoring his work and detaining him. Currently Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist, is using both art and social media to promote the fight for human rights and freedom of speech both within the Chinese society and the global society.
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