Ai Weiwei knows all about creative freedom, because he's been denied it for so long. As a child he and his family were sent to a Communist labour camp for re-education. His father, poet Ai Qing had offended the authorities and his whole family were forced to face the consequences. In the 70s Weiwei trained at the Beijing Film Academy before moving to New York for over a decade. There he was exposed to the power of a culture that allowed its artists free reign over what they chose to explore and represent. When he returned to China in the 90s his career as artist provocateur began. A complicated relationship with the Chinese authorities then ensued. He was commissioned to co-design the jewel in the Olympic crown, the Bird's Nest stadium for the Beijing 2008. Then just a couple of years later his Shanghai studio was razed to the ground by the government, seemingly due to his online criticism of their activities, describing the Olympics as a "fake smile to the foreigners". In 2009 he was beaten by the police for attempting to testify at the trial of liberal intellectual Tan Zuoren and most famously in 2011 he was detained and incarcerated by the authorities for 81 days and questioned about his "subversive activities". He was eventually released but subjected to a vast tax bill, largely believed to be bogus.
Weiwei's practice is vast; he appropriates readymades from Chinese culture from simple furniture to priceless neolithic pots; he rebuilds ancient trees from the mountains of Southern China and in the case of 81 he recreated a life-size replica of the prison cell in which he was incarcerated. His work is often nostalgic and hopeful but almost always political and provocative. In the 2012 documentary "Never Sorry" Weiwei says; 'We're always trying to think of ways to get everyone involved". He was describing an online project he commissioned to mark the second anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake. The piece was called Nian (To Read & Commemorate) and involved over 5000 volunteers around the world uploading their voices reading the name of one of the earthquake's victims.
Weiwei wants to support those people of China, those unheard voices. Whilst he is no longer imprisoned his passport remains confiscated and he's not allowed to leave the country. During his incarceration the Royal Academy of Arts saw fit to make him an Honorary Royal Academician as a sign of our support and acknowledgment of his work. So what does that mean?
The Royal Academy of Arts was founded 1768 as an independent company of artists. Led by our first President Sir Joshua Reynolds RA we have no government funding and are overseen by Academicians (artists and architects elected by their peers). Established to exhibit, create and debate the highest artistic ideals and to give artists a voice and to provide an independent platform for artists to express themselves. Today, we count David Hockney, Zaha Hadid, Anish Kapoor and Sir Norman Foster among our number. Every two years we give over our grand galleries on Piccadilly in Mayfair to one of those artists. September 2015 sees Weiwei take his turn.
Ai Weiwei is one of the most famous artists in the world but he's had relatively few exhibitions for an artist of his reputation. His most significant intervention in the UK was Sunflower Seeds at Tate Modern in 2010. The Royal Academy exhibition will mark the first major institutional show in the UK and one that we are determined will be shared around the world. This autumn Weiwei will take over the Royal Academy Galleries but also our famous courtyard off Piccadilly. Weiwei wants to bring 8 of his monumental, seven metre high trees from the mountains of rural China to the heart of London's Mayfair. But to do this - we need your help.
Traditionally exhibitions are planned years in advance and we secure funding for them ahead of time. This ground-breaking exhibition will go from idea to fruition in less than one year. Due in part to its ambition but also due to Weiwei's own philosophy of inclusivity and shared creation we need the public to help us raise vital funds to create and install "Tree". Weiwei says of social media: "I'm so impressed and touched that all these young people want to make an effort, to act". We're asking you to do just that, act.
Partnering with Kickstarter we're looking to raise £100,000 to realise this monumental project and share it with the global public. From just £5 you can be credited as a patron of the arts and have your name appear as an exhibition sponsor. Not coming to London this autumn? Kickstarter rewards include the chance to unlock a virtual tour of the exhibition with curator Adrian Locke. Feeling generous? Become a Friend of the RA for a day and see the exhibition before it opens to the public.
Ai Weiwei at the Royal Academy will be the most high profile exhibition of the year. It's our duty as a voice for artists to put on this extraordinary show and our duty to ask you support creative freedom.
Please help by clicking here:
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Photography
© Harry Pearce, Pentagram 2015
© Ai Weiwei/RoyalAcademy