Ai Weiwei

Chinese contemporary artist and activist. A designer of the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest) for the 2008 Olympics, he turned against the Chinese government after the Sichuan earthquake revealed corrupt construction. His art confronts authoritarianism, surveillance, and the refugee crisis. Detained by Chinese authorities for 81 days in 2011.

• Lived: 1957 CE – ?
• Nationality: Chinese
• Roles: artist, activist, architect

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