Profile

Ai Weiwei was born in Beijing in 1957 as the son of Ai Qing, one of modern China’s most renowned poets. He entered the Beijing Film Academy in 1978. In 1979 and in 1981 he took part in exhibitions held by the avant-garde group "Xingxing (The Stars)." Soon afterwards Ai moved to the U.S.A., returning to China in 1993. Since his return Ai has worked in publishing and also been active in his support of young Chinese artists through his China Art Archive & Warehouse (CAAW). In 2000 he was one of the curators of the influential exhibition "Fuck Off." Since designing his own residence and studio in 1999, Ai has been involved in over 70 architectural and urban planning projects. His recent exhibitions include the Venice Biennale 2008, 2008 Liverpool Biennial, Documenta 12 (Kassel, 2007), and "Mahjong: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg Collection" (touring since 2006).