Ai Weiwei named as world’s most important art figure
‘For reminding the art world of its wider political
role’:
UK: Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who hit the headlines
during his 81-day detention by Chinese authorities, was on Thursday
named as the world’s most powerful art figure by influential magazine
Art Review.
Ai, who was released in June after being imprisoned for “economic
crimes”, tops the London-based publication’s annual “power 100 list”
ahead of Hans-Ulrich Obrist and Julia Peyton-Jones, curators of London’s
Serpentine Gallery.
Mark Rappolt, the magazine’s editor, said that Ai “had reminded the
art world of its wider political role, as an agent of protest outside
the sometimes inward-looking domain of galleries and museums.
“His activism has been a reminder of how art can reach out to a
bigger audience and connect with the real world,” he added.
“Institutions, while they are really important, can be great tombs.”
Police accused Ai of tax evasion and the government eventually freed
him due to his “good attitude” in admitting to the charges against him,
his willingness to repay taxes he owes and on medical grounds. He has
diabetes.
Rights groups have however said the outspoken 54-year-old, who is
known for his fierce criticism of the ruling Communist Party, was
detained as part of a crackdown on critics of the regime. The artist
recently covered the floor of London’s Tate Modern museum with 100
million porcelain sunflower seeds as part of an exhibition and becomes
only the second artist after Damien Hirst to top the ten-year-old list.
London, AFP |