Ai Weiwei - Artist and Activist

Three photographs of a man smashing an ancient Chinese vase. The man is Ai Weiwei (born 1957) - China's most renowned living artist and one of the world's most prominent artist-activists.

Weiwei does not create art for art's sake. His dramatic and provocative works aim to spark action and transform society: he advocates for freedom, freedom of expression, and respect for the individual, and his work highlights social inequality, injustice, and oppression. He has consistently criticized the Chinese government, which has sought to restrict his freedom of movement and expression.

Weiwei works across many media - sculpture, photography, film, installations, performance, architecture, design, and conceptual projects, including social media activism. He has a particular fondness for 'readymades': everyday objects from past and present, both handmade and mass-produced - antique furniture, architectural elements, porcelain, tea, bicycles, schoolbags - reworked and assembled into new, strange forms and gigantic installations.

The lecture is held by Mathilde Teglgaard Nielsen, MA in media studies and art history. Organizers: Helsinge Library and Gribskov Folk University. Price: 90 kr. - tickets purchased via Gribskov Folk University.