A Studio Party in China
November 8, 2010
Whereas many artists might worry about copyright infringement, Ai Weiwei has been facing a rather unusual set of legal issues.
Two years ago, the Shanghai government had asked Ai to create a studio for its new arts district. The municipal government recently issued an order to demolish the site, citing Ai’s alleged failure to timely apply for a project development license.
Ai planned a rally disguised as a “celebration” over the weekend to protest the demolition, but was prevented from attending when the government placed him in detention. After two days under house arrest, Ai has been released.
Read the Wall Street Journal coverage here
The story raises issues regarding government sponsorship of and control over art and human rights issues.
