Tales of the Watchtower and the Release of Ai Weiwei: Following the Saga

Yesterday, it was announced that Ai Weiwei has been released. I, and the rest of the arts community rejoiced as soon as we heard the news. It´s a coincidence that I just finished reading Phaidon´s first monograph on Ai Weiwei and have finally grasped the language of his sculpture. Any celebration thrown now would be half-bake as we know that the story has not even reached the climax. We all know that Ai Weiwei will continually be "observed" and followed by the dreadfully invading CCTV. And unless he invents a whole new set of signs and Morse codes to communicate and let us know what really happened, then we need to follow the saga.

He´s on bail for Godsakes, for tax evasion and was released due to "good behaviour for confessing his crimes." He was able to speak to some reporters outside his studio today but was not able to talk about his detention Read More »

Theme: Memory and Uselessness/ How I Celebrated my Birthday with Ai WeiWei

No planned lunches, no fancy dinners: My birthday had strictly been a whole-day art affair between me and Pach. My friends have probably cursed me by now for not planning a birthday celebration this year or even inviting for tea or coffee. I´ve been absent from the social circle for several months.

I was however, slightly more active in that darn and yet indispensable Facebook which reminds me that I can be in a so-called social circle and yet still feel like an outcast. Technology will never replace face to face human interaction and here I am blogging about my sentiments with the world, with people who I may not even meet. But to my real friends in the real world, please do not forget, you are all very dear to me. Read More »

Ai Weiwei is still Missing

I believe the controversial Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is one of the last standing political artists in the world today.

Weiwei is  still being detained by the police as we speak after his plans of leaving the country was foiled. I was very excited about what I read last week that Weiwei was planning to transfer his studio in Berlin but now I don´t think this would ever be a possibility.  Europe would undoubtedly receive him with open arms (which I know they already did) and Weiwei will seal the fact that Berlin is still the preferred art destination.

Unfortunately, the Chinese government  is  bent on not letting him go. The Chinese authorities are  afraid of the growing global influence of Weiwei  --- (France, Germany and the US have already demanded the release of Weiwei.) Read More »