Artistry & Incarceration with Ai Weiwei

Martha, a friend and fan of the monumental Chinese artist and political activist Ai Weiwei, notes some similarities between them: a love of food, a love of cats, a life of artistry, and incarceration. Eight years after they last met in his studio in Beijing, they re-connect to talk about his experience “disappearing” from the world into a Chinese state prison where “they count your eye blinks.” Martha asks him about the inspiration behind her favorite of his provocative and engaging works: Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, Forever Bicycles, and more. How many people does it take to create 100 million porcelain Sunflower Seeds? Which of these two is more outspoken? You’ll learn this and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.