A compact and amply illustrated guide to the prodigious artist, activist and dissident

Emerging from a tumultuous background of political and cultural critique, Ai Weiwei (born 1957) uses a diverse range of mediums—including sculpture, photography, film and even social media—to confront issues from human rights abuses to democracy, censorship and the role of the artist in society. Many of his interventions directly confront Chinese history and its current political climate, such as his infamous photo series Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995) or his poignant response to the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, Straight. Other, more recent artworks address global crises including the plight of refugees and forced migrants commemorated in Law of the Journey and the documentary Human Flow. Uniting craftsmanship with conceptual creativity, Ai’s provocative and socially engaging art challenges political dogma and makes a plea for human rights. He serves as an example for free expression both in China and internationally. Ai Weiwei Handbook, the latest volume in the new series from No More Rulers, is an accessible, affordable guide to Ai’s storied career of art and activism.

Visual artist(s): Ai Weiwei
Text by: Foong Ping