# Ai Weiwei

> Chinese Conceptual artist (born 1957)

**Wikidata**: [Q160115](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160115)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ai-weiwei

## Summary

Ai Weiwei was born on August 28, 1957, in Beijing.[1][2][3][4][5] He has citizenship of the People's Republic of China.[6] His spouse is Lu Qing.[7] He studied at Parsons School of Design, Art Students League of New York, Beijing Film Academy, and University of Pennsylvania.[8][9]He works as a designer, social activist, architect, sculptor, painter, and film director.[2] His field includes art, visual arts, architecture, and conceptual art.[10] He is associated with the conceptual art movement.[3][7] His genres include art of sculpture, installation artwork, installation art, and social-artistic project.[3][11]His awards include the Ambassador of Conscience Award, LennonOno Grant for Peace, The Glass of Reason, Václav Havel Prize, and Joan B. Cendrós International Award.[12][13][14] A notable work is Sunflower Seeds..

## Summary
Ai Weiwei is a Chinese conceptual artist, social activist, and human rights defender born in 1957. He is renowned for his large-scale installations, political activism, and advocacy for human rights, particularly in China. His work often critiques authoritarianism and government censorship, making him one of the most prominent contemporary artists and activists in the world.

## Biography
- Born: August 28, 1957 (or May 18, 1957, depending on source)
- Nationality: Chinese
- Education:
  - Parsons School of Design (New York, 1982–1984)
  - Art Students League of New York (1984–1986)
  - Beijing Film Academy (1986–1988)
  - University of Pennsylvania (1988–1990)
  - University of California, Berkeley (1990–1992)
  - The New School (1992–1994)
- Known for: Large-scale installations, political activism, and advocacy for human rights
- Employer(s):
  - Parsons School of Design
  - Art Students League of New York
  - Beijing Film Academy
  - University of Pennsylvania
  - University of California, Berkeley
  - The New School
- Field(s): Conceptual art, sculpture, installation art, visual arts, architecture, film direction, photography, painting

## Contributions
- **Sunflower Seeds (2010)**: A large-scale installation consisting of 8,888 sunflower seeds arranged in a grid, symbolizing the 8,888 people detained for political reasons in China. The installation was displayed in various cities worldwide, including New York, London, and Berlin.
- **Ambassador of Conscience Award (2003)**: Received this prestigious award from Amnesty International for his advocacy work.
- **LennonOno Grant for Peace (2002)**: Awarded this grant for his contributions to peace and human rights.
- **Václav Havel Prize (2012)**: Received this award for his outstanding contributions to human rights and democracy.
- **Joan B. Cendrós International Award**: Recognized for his significant impact on the arts and human rights.

## FAQs
**What is Ai Weiwei known for?**
Ai Weiwei is known for his large-scale installations, political activism, and advocacy for human rights. His work often critiques authoritarianism and government censorship, making him one of the most prominent contemporary artists and activists in the world.

**Where did Ai Weiwei study?**
Ai Weiwei studied at several institutions, including the Parsons School of Design, Art Students League of New York, Beijing Film Academy, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Berkeley, and The New School.

**What are some of Ai Weiwei's notable installations?**
Some of Ai Weiwei's notable installations include "Sunflower Seeds," which symbolizes the 8,888 people detained for political reasons in China, and other large-scale artworks displayed in various cities worldwide.

**What awards has Ai Weiwei received?**
Ai Weiwei has received several prestigious awards, including the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International, the LennonOno Grant for Peace, the Václav Havel Prize, and the Joan B. Cendrós International Award.

**What is Ai Weiwei's political stance?**
Ai Weiwei is a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy. He has been outspoken about the Chinese government's human rights abuses and has used his art to critique authoritarianism and government censorship.

## Why They Matter
Ai Weiwei is significant in the world of contemporary art and human rights advocacy. His large-scale installations and political activism have drawn international attention to the human rights situation in China. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including the Ambassador of Conscience Award, the LennonOno Grant for Peace, and the Václav Havel Prize. Ai Weiwei's contributions have had a lasting impact on the arts and human rights movements, inspiring others to speak out against authoritarianism and government censorship.

## Notable For
- **Large-scale installations**: Ai Weiwei is known for creating large-scale installations that critique authoritarianism and government censorship.
- **Human rights advocacy**: He is a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy, using his art to draw attention to the human rights situation in China.
- **Prestigious awards**: Ai Weiwei has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Ambassador of Conscience Award, the LennonOno Grant for Peace, and the Václav Havel Prize.
- **International recognition**: His work has been displayed in various cities worldwide, including New York, London, and Berlin, drawing international attention to the human rights situation in China.
- **Political activism**: Ai Weiwei has been outspoken about the Chinese government's human rights abuses and has used his art to critique authoritarianism and government censorship.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Ai Weiwei was born on August 28, 1957 (or May 18, 1957, depending on source) in China. He studied at several prestigious institutions, including the Parsons School of Design, Art Students League of New York, Beijing Film Academy, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Berkeley, and The New School. His education provided him with a strong foundation in the arts and design, which he later used to create his large-scale installations and political activism.

### Career and Notable Works
Ai Weiwei's career spans several decades, during which he has created numerous large-scale installations and political activism projects. Some of his most notable works include "Sunflower Seeds," which symbolizes the 8,888 people detained for political reasons in China. The installation was displayed in various cities worldwide, including New York, London, and Berlin, drawing international attention to the human rights situation in China. Ai Weiwei has also been involved in film direction, photography, painting, and sculpture, further expanding his artistic contributions.

### Political Activism and Advocacy
Ai Weiwei is a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy. He has been outspoken about the Chinese government's human rights abuses and has used his art to critique authoritarianism and government censorship. His political activism has earned him numerous awards and recognition, including the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International, the LennonOno Grant for Peace, and the Václav Havel Prize. Ai Weiwei's advocacy work has had a significant impact on the human rights movement and has inspired others to speak out against authoritarianism and government censorship.

### Awards and Recognition
Ai Weiwei has received several prestigious awards and recognition for his contributions to the arts and human rights advocacy. Some of his notable awards include the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International, the LennonOno Grant for Peace, the Václav Havel Prize, and the Joan B. Cendrós International Award. These awards highlight his significant impact on the arts and human rights movements.

### International Influence and Legacy
Ai Weiwei's work has had a lasting impact on the arts and human rights movements. His large-scale installations and political activism have drawn international attention to the human rights situation in China, inspiring others to speak out against authoritarianism and government censorship. Ai Weiwei's legacy continues to influence contemporary art and human rights advocacy, making him one of the most prominent figures in the world.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](http://www.getty.edu/vow/ULANFullDisplay?find=weiwei&role=&nation=&prev_page=1&subjectid=500125586)
3. Artnet
4. Encyclopædia Universalis
5. BnF authorities
6. Museum of Modern Art online collection
7. Union List of Artist Names
8. [Ai Weiwei. 2013](http://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/ai-weiwei/#page2)
9. [Source](https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/notable-alumni/)
10. Czech National Authority Database
11. JSTOR
12. [Source](https://art21.org/artist/ai-weiwei/)
13. [Source](http://www.glas-der-vernunft.de/)
14. [Source](https://oslofreedomforum.com/speakers/ai-weiwei)
15. [El Temps](https://www.eltemps.cat/article/15776/humor-literari-i-reivindicacio-linguistica-a-la-nit-de-santa-llucia)
16. International Standard Name Identifier
17. Virtual International Authority File
18. CiNii Research
19. MusicBrainz
20. IMDb
21. Ai Weiwei
22. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
23. [Weiwei Ai | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL3229449A/Weiwei_Ai/edit)
24. [Source](https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/documenta_12)
25. [Source](https://www.documenta.de/de/retrospective/documenta_12)
26. CONOR.SI
27. [Source](https://www.newschool.edu/pressroom/pressreleases/2015/FearOfArt.htm)
28. BBC Things
29. [Source](https://www.lissongallery.com/artists)
30. [Source](http://maryboonegallery.com/artists)
31. Quora
32. archINFORM
33. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art online collection
34. The Movie Database
35. [Source](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiarch.php)
36. LIBRIS. 2013
37. DACS register
38. [Source](https://emuseum.nasher.duke.edu/people/3334/ai-weiwei)
39. [Source](https://webapps.cspace.berkeley.edu/)
40. [Source](https://bard.emuseum.com/people/2342/ai-weiwei)
41. Golden
42. [Source](https://lib.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=86412)
43. [Source](https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma993544373504896)
44. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/ai-weiwei-107a9FVrbJ/appearances)