The Life and Art of Ai Weiwei: A Portrait of Creativity and Resistance
Ai Weiwei, the renowned Chinese artist and activist, splits his time between a sprawling 30,000-square-foot studio in Berlin and other locations around the globe, including Cambridge, England, and Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal. His Berlin studio, housed in the underground levels of a former 19th-century brewery, is a testament to his resilience and creativity. The space, which he renovated himself after fleeing China in 2015, is a symbol of transformation, much like his own life. The cavernous studio, with its triple-height vaulted ceilings, was once dark and abandoned but is now a hub of artistic production. For Ai, this space evokes memories of his childhood, spent in a makeshift underground home in the Gurbantünggüt Desert, where his father, the poet Ai Qing, was exiled during China’s Anti-Rightist Campaign. These early experiences of displacement and repression shaped Ai’s lifelong commitment to challenging authoritarianism and advocating for human rights.
Ai’s artistic journey is deeply intertwined with his political activism. His work often critiques systems of power, whether through installations like “Rebar,” which confronts the corruption and lack of accountability that contributed to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, or his documented responses to the refugee crisis in “Human Flow.” His art is marked by accumulation—amassing thousands of objects, from steel rods to antique chairs—to create immersive, thought-provoking pieces. This approach reflects his interest in both collective action and consumer culture. Ai’s work has made him a target of government surveillance and censorship, ultimately forcing him to leave Beijing for Berlin, a city he describes as a place of “ruin and new life.”
In his Berlin studio, Ai surrounds himself with the artifacts of his creative process: twisted steel rods from “Rebar,” a world map used to plan “Human Flow,” and stacks of antique Qing dynasty chairs from his project “Fairytale.” These objects serve as reminders of his relentless curiosity and his ability to transform the discarded into the extraordinary. Ai’s practice is not confined to traditional notions of creativity; he sees his work as an extension of everyday life, blending activism, curation, and art. His team manages up to 10 exhibitions a year, a testament to his boundless energy and dedication.
When asked about his creative process, Ai emphasizes curiosity as the starting point. For him, art is not about technical skill but about finding meaning in the ordinary and pushing boundaries. His early work, shaped by his time in New York in the 1980s and 1990s, reflects a minimalist and Dada-inspired aesthetic, while his later projects have evolved to incorporate materials like Legos and discarded refugee life jackets. Ai’s artistic philosophy is deeply personal, often reflecting his own experiences of displacement and resilience. He avoids labeling himself a “professional artist,” Instead, he sees his work as a continuous journey, driven by the need to challenge and provoke.
Ai’s daily life is marked by discipline and introspection. A self-proclaimed morning person, he begins each day by immersing himself in political news andglobal events, which he believes are more relevant to his work than art criticism. His studio is his sanctuary, where he spends long hours conceptualizing projects, collaborating with his team, and reflecting on the state of the world. Despite his global travels and constant movement, Ai finds solace in routine—whether it’s his 10,000 daily steps, his love of green tea, or his quirky habit of photographing nearly every visitor to his studio.
In a recent interview, Ai offered a glimpse into his inner world, revealing both his mischievous humor and his profound sincerity. He reflected on everything from his childhood inventions—a makeshift lamp made from a medicine bottle cap—to his later regrets, including the demolition of his Shanghai studio. For Ai, art is not just about creating objects; it’s about challenging systems, questioning authority, and inspiring change. As he approaches the twilight of his career, Ai remains focused on the future, using his art to protect the past and imagine a better world. His legacy, like his studio, is a testament to the power of creativity and resistance.