STROLLING along the banks of the Thames last week on one of my rare trips to the capital, I was caught somewhat off guard.
I know my way around the city centre fairly well these days and don't tend to get lost so easily, but for just a second I was thrown a little off. The sight of a Chinese dissident's name, calling to me across the Thames was the last thing I expected to see, and it caused me to perform a rather comical double take.
Even though he is one of the most respected artists in the world, the name Ai Weiwei means little to most in England. But in recent months, he has arguably found his largest British audience with his sunflower seed exhibition, currently showing at the Tate Modern until May 2, 2011.
Weiwei is that most rare of things - a Chinese dissident who has somehow retained the freedom to travel in and out of China, whilst also speaking his mind. Although the Beijing 'authorities' have constantly tried to silence him, by closing down his popular blog, and even attacking him, Weiwei continues to be vocal about his disapproal of the situation in China.
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| London's Tate Modern: Ai Weiwei's exhibition runs until May 2, 2011 Photo by: JOE BRISCOE |
Now finally, with this ceramic sunflower seed display in London, people are beginning to associate his name with his art.
Previously, whenever I mentioned his name to people in England, I was invariably met with blank stares until that is, I explain that this is the man who designed the iconic Bird's Nest stadium for the 2008 genocide Olympics in Beijing.
Cast your mind back a few months to that BBC documentary with Alan Yentob and that Chinese guy? Yes, that's him too.
WHO IS AI WEI WEI?
Born in 1957, Weiwei is the son of Chinese poet Ai Qing, who was denounced during the Cultural Revolution and send to a labour camp when Weiwei was just 1 year old.
When he was 20, Weiwei enrolled at the Beijing Film Academy, and studied alongside superstar Chinese directors Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou - but unlike these artists of the silver screen, Weiwei decided to vary his creativity somewhat. From 1981 to 1993 he lived in New York, creating conceptual art, until he was forced to return to China when his father became ill.
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| Beijing: Weiwei has publicly distanced himself from him most prominent creation - the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Photo by: JOE BRISCOE |
His controversial art, along with his fearlessness to speak his mind has propelled him into an unenviable position. In 2009 he was savegely beaten by Chinese police, after trying to testify for Tan Zuoren - a fellow outspoken champion of human rights.
The pair had attempted to compile a complete list of those who died in the catastrophic Sichuan earthquake in the hope that corruption in the local governments which led to the collapse of schools in the area would be fully revealed.
The beating caused Weiwei to be admitted to a hospital in Munich were he underwent emergency brain surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage.
But last year, Weiwei was ranked 13 in ArtReview's guide to the 100 most powerful figures in contemporary art, and he quickly consolidated the position with his display at the Tate Modern.
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| London displays: A virtually unspoken name in China. Photo by: JOE BRISCOE |
THERE is very little chance of hearing his name mentioned in normal conversation in China, as even typing his name into the search engines immediately trips the great firewall, which censors it outright.
And so to see his name, bold as day, screaming out across the Thames was a pleasant moment indeed - and one which immediately reminded me of the massive chasm which still separates countries like England from China.
The air really is more fresh over here....
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