Ai Weiwei; influential, controversial Chinese Artist whose blog was shutdown by the Chinese Government

This is a photograph of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in front of Tiananmen Square, although I don't exactly know when the photograph was taken. Ai Weiwei's blog was shut down days before the Tiananmen Square anniversary. This was due to him drawing attention to the lives lost in the Sichuan Earthquake in May 2008. 9,000 students and teachers were killed when a school collapsed during the earthquake due to poor construction ("China Earthquake: 200,000 flee from growing Sichuan Lake". )

As an artist, Ai Weiwei is highly critical of Chinese government policies and acts to promote individual freedom of thought in China. From the article "Our Duty is the Remember Sichuan" on The Guardian website:

"I call on people to be "obsessed ­citizens", forever questioning and ­asking for accountability. That's the only chance we have today of a healthy and happy life." - Ai Weiwei

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/25/china-earthquake-cover-up

He is a fascinating figure who is definitely worth checking out. I really wish I could read Chinese and understand his blog, but I guess learning Chinese will have to be a new goal of mine.