Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist and activist. Ai grew up in the far north-west of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been openly critical of the Chinese Government's stance on democracy and human rights.

He investigated government corruption and cover-ups, in particular the Sichuan schools corruption scandal following the collapse of schools in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport on 3 April, for allegedly economic crimes. He was detained for 81 days without charge.

Ai Weiwei emerged as a vital instigator in Chinese cultural development, an architect of Chinese modernism, and one of the nation's most vocal political commentators. Ai Weiwei encapsulates political conviction and his personal poetry in his many sculptures, photographs and public works. In doing this, he makes use of Chinese art forms to display the Chinese political and social issues.

After being allowed to leave China in 2015, he has lived in Berlin, Germany, and, since 2019, in Cambridge, UK, with his family, working and traveling internationally.

Ai Weiwei is known for work in directing across film and television. New Release currently presents 33 verified screen credits connected to this profile.

Selected work includes Ithaka (2022), Aux arts et cætera (2022), The Rest (2019), Why Are We Creative? (2018), Flowers of Taipei: Taiwan New Cinema (2014), Ai Weiwei's Appeal ¥15,220,910.50 (2014), Hormone (2011), Disturbing the Peace (2009). The recorded credits span 1948 to 2026, including 25 movies and 8 TV shows.

The filmography below lists available titles, release years and known roles. This profile is updated as additional verified information becomes available.