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Ai Weiwei

Name in Native Language: "艾未未" (Chinese (Mandarin)/ZH)
Designer / Architect / Film Director / Human Rights Defender / Photographer / Artist | * 08/28/1957 (66) | Beijing (People's Republic of China)
Ai Weiwei (Chinese: 艾未未; pinyin: Ài Wèiwèi, English pronunciation: (help·info); born 28 August 1957) is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. Ai grew up in the far northwest of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been openly critical of the Chinese Government's stance on democracy and human rights. He investigated government corruption and cover-ups, in particular the Sichuan schools corruption scandal following the collapse of "tofu-dreg schools" in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport on 3 April, for "economic crimes". He was detained for 81 days without charge. Ai Weiwei emerged as a vital instigator in Chinese cultural development, an architect of Chinese modernism, and one of the nation's most vocal political commentators. Ai Weiwei encapsulates political conviction and his personal poetry in his many sculptures, photographs, and public works. In doing this, he makes use of Chinese art forms to display Chinese political and social issues. After being allowed to leave China in 2015, he has lived in Berlin, Germany, in Cambridge, UK, with his family, and in Portugal. ()
Photo of Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist and activist. Ai grew up in the far north-west of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been openly critical of the Chinese Government's stance on democracy and human rights. He investigated government corruption and cover-ups, in particular the Sichuan schools corruption scandal following the collapse of schools in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport on 3 April, for allegedly economic crimes. He was detained for 81 days without charge. Ai Weiwei emerged as a vital instigator in Chinese cultural development, an architect of Chinese modernism, and one of the nation's most vocal political commentators. Ai Weiwei encapsulates political conviction and his personal poetry in his many sculptures, photographs and public works. In doing this, he makes use of Chinese art forms to display the Chinese political and social issues. After being allowed to leave China in 2015, he has lived in Berlin, Germany, and, since 2019, in Cambridge, UK, with his family, working and traveling internationally.

Most frequent genres for this person: Documentaries | Science Fiction | Drama

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Ai Weiwei

Ambassador of Conscience Award LennonOno Grant for Peace The Glass of Reason Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent
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Movies with Ai Weiwei as Actor(17)

TV Shows/Series with Ai Weiwei as Actor(4)

Movies with Ai Weiwei as Crew(54)

Directing/Director2021 Rohingya
Production/Producer2021 Rohingya
Directing/Director2020 Cockroach
Directing/Director2020 Coronation
Production/Producer2020 Coronation
Camera/Director of Photography2020 Vivos
Directing/Director2020 Vivos
Production/Producer2020 Vivos
Production/Executive Producer2019 Ximei
Directing/Director2019 The Rest
Production/Producer2019 The Rest
Camera/Director of Photography2017 Human Flow
Directing/Director2017 Human Flow
Production/Producer2017 Human Flow
Directing/Director2014 Ai Weiwei's Appeal ¥15,220,910.50
Production/Producer2014 Ai Weiwei's Appeal ¥15,220,910.50
Directing/Director2013 Ping'an Yueqing
Production/Producer2013 Ping'an Yueqing
Directing/Director2013 Stay Home
Production/Producer2013 Stay Home
Directing/Director2012 So Sorry
Production/Producer2012 So Sorry
Crew/Thanks2012 Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Crew/Cinematography2012 Chang'an Boulevard
Directing/Director2012 Chang'an Boulevard
Editing/Editor2012 Chang'an Boulevard
Production/Producer2012 Chang'an Boulevard
Directing/Director2012 The Crab House
Production/Producer2012 The Crab House
Crew/Cinematography2012 Beijing: The Second Ring
Directing/Director2012 Beijing: The Second Ring
Editing/Editor2012 Beijing: The Second Ring
Production/Producer2012 Beijing: The Second Ring
Directing/Director2012 The Mala Desert
Production/Producer2012 The Mala Desert
Crew/Cinematography2012 Beijing: The Third Ring
Directing/Director2012 Beijing: The Third Ring
Editing/Editor2012 Beijing: The Third Ring
Production/Producer2012 Beijing: The Third Ring
Directing/Director2012 Ordos 100
Production/Producer2012 Ordos 100
Crew/Cinematography2010 One Recluse
Directing/Director2010 One Recluse
Editing/Editor2010 One Recluse
Production/Producer2010 One Recluse
Directing/Director2009 Disturbing the Peace
Production/Producer2009 Disturbing the Peace
Directing/Director2007 Fairytale
Editing/Editor2007 Fairytale
Production/Producer2007 Fairytale
Crew/Cinematography2004 Beijing 2003
Directing/Director2004 Beijing 2003
Editing/Editor2004 Beijing 2003
Production/Producer2004 Beijing 2003

Additional Information

Full Name: Weiwei Ai
Born: Wednesday, 08/28 1957 (August) in Beijing (People's Republic of China) (current age: 66 years + 213 days)
Zodiac sign: Virgo (Chinese zodiac sign: Rooster)
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin) (ZH)
Educated at: Parsons School of Design, Art Students League of New York, Beijing Film Academy, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Berkeley
Member of: Academy of Arts, Berlin, Royal Academy of Arts, The Stars Art Group
Represented by: Lisson Gallery, Mary Boone Gallery
Spouses (current/former): Lu Qing
Father: Ai Qing
Other names for Ai Weiwei (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"艾未未"
"Ài Wèiwèi"
"Weiwei Ai"
"Ai Wei-wei"
Ai Weiwei frequently works together with these people:
Zhao Zhao (9x, Crew)
Zuoxiao Zuzhou (7x, Cast)
Alison Klayman (5x, Crew)
Andy Cohen (5x, Crew)
Wang Fen (5x, Crew)
Stephen Colbert (4x, Actor)
Jon Stewart (4x, Actor)
Chin-Chin Yap (4x, Crew)
Rory Albanese (4x, Crew)
Jason Wishnow (4x, Crew)
Ke Guo (4x, Crew)
Ma Yan (4x, Crew)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:849834, Added: 11/13/2018, Last updated: 02/29/2024