<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en-gb" lang="en-gb"><head>
<base href="/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged"/>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/>
<meta name="robots" content="index, follow"/>
<meta name="keywords" content="Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, birds nest"/>
<meta name="title" content="Ai Weiwei: Free But Gagged"/>
<meta name="author" content="Vitri"/>
<meta name="description" content="Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has been released after nearly three months of detention.But the outspoken, regime critical artist has been forced to remain quiet and to stay in China, a condition for his release."/>
<meta name="generator" content="Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management"/>
<title>Ai Weiwei: Free But Gagged</title>
<link href="/en/component/jcomments/task=rss&object_id=2095&object_group=com_content&tmpl=component" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Ai Weiwei: Free But Gagged"/>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/favicon.ico" rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/components/com_jcomments/tpl/default/style.cssv=10" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/modules/mod_jflanguageselection/tmpl/mod_jflanguageselection.css" type="text/css"/>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/js/jcomments-v2.1.jsv=2"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/libraries/joomlatune/ajax.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/mootools.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/caption.js"></script>
<script src="/plugins/content/1pixelout/audio-player.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<link type="text/css" href="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.css" rel="stylesheet"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/system.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/general.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/editor.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/typo.css" type="text/css"/>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="/templates/ja_vauxite/js/ja.script.js"></script>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
var siteurl = '/';
var tmplurl = '/templates/ja_vauxite';
</script>
<!-- Menu head -->
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
<script src="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.js" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/template.css" type="text/css"/>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/colors/red.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
<!--[if lte IE 6]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {height: 1%;}
img {border: none;}
#ja-cpanel-tools{
filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(enabled=true, src=../images/ja-cpanel-switcher.png, sizingMethod=image);
}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte IE 7.0]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {display: inline-block;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gt IE 7]>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/ie8.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<![endif]-->
<script type="text/javascript">
function resetall () {
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_color','red', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_layout','leftlayout', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_screen','wide', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_modfunc',0, 365);
createCookie('ja-ordercolumn','-', 365);
createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_font',3, 365);
window.location.reload();
}
</script>
</head>
<body id="bd" class="leftlayout wide fs3">
<a name="Top" id="Top"></a>
<ul class="accessibility">
<li><a href="/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gaggedlang=en" title="Skip to content">Skip to content</a></li>
<li><a href="/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gaggedlang=en" title="Skip to main navigation">Skip to main navigation</a></li>
<li><a href="/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gaggedlang=en" title="Skip to 1st column">Skip to 1st column</a></li>
<li><a href="/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gaggedlang=en" title="Skip to 2nd column">Skip to 2nd column</a></li>
</ul>
<!-- BEGIN: HEADER -->
<div id="ja-headerwrap">
<div id="ja-header" class="clearfix">
<h1 class="logo">
<a href="/index.php" title="AsiaCalling"><span>AsiaCalling</span></a>
</h1>
<div id="ja-search">
<div id="jflanguageselection"><div class="rawimages"><span><a href="/in/belajar/belajar-bahasa-inggris/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/in.gif" alt="Indonesian (ID)" title="Indonesian (ID)"/></a></span><span id="active_language"><a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/en.gif" alt="English (United Kingdom)" title="English (United Kingdom)"/></a></span><span><a href="/bn/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/bn.gif" alt="Bengali(Bangladesh)" title="Bengali(Bangladesh)"/></a></span><span><a href="/km/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/km.gif" alt="Khmer (Cambodia)" title="Khmer (Cambodia)"/></a></span><span><a href="/ur/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/ur.gif" alt="Urdu Pakistan (اردو)" title="Urdu Pakistan (اردو)"/></a></span></div></div><!--Joom!fish V2.0.2 ()-->
<!-- © 2003-2009 Think Network, released under the GPL. -->
<!-- More information: at http://www.joomfish.net -->
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: HEADER -->
<!-- BEGIN: MAIN NAVIGATION -->
<div id="ja-mainnavwrap">
<div id="ja-mainnav" class="clearfix">
<div id="jasdl-mainnav"><ul><li id="jasdl-mainnav248"><a href="/" class="menu-item0 first-item" id="menu248" title="Home"><span class="menu-title">Home</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav202"><a href="/en/news" class="menu-item1" id="menu202" title="News"><span class="menu-title">News</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav359"><a href="/en/special-reports" class="menu-item2" id="menu359" title="Special Reports"><span class="menu-title">Special Reports</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav181"><a href="/en/download" class="menu-item3" id="menu181" title="Download"><span class="menu-title">Download</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav176"><a href="/en/tune-in" class="menu-item4" id="menu176" title="Tune In"><span class="menu-title">Tune In</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav206"><a href="/en/links" class="menu-item5" id="menu206" title="Links"><span class="menu-title">Links</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav166"><a href="/en/about-us" class="menu-item6" id="menu166" title="About Us"><span class="menu-title">About Us</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav471"><a href="/en/learn-english" class="menu-item7 active" id="menu471" title="Learn English"><span class="menu-title">Learn English</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav390"><a href="/en/archives" class="menu-item8" id="menu390" title="Archives"><span class="menu-title">Archives</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav492"><a href="/en/asia-forum" class="menu-item9 last-item" id="menu492" title="Asia Calling Forum"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling Forum</span></a></li></ul></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
var jasdl_activemenu = new Array(471,472);
</script>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ja-subnavwrap">
<div id="ja-subnav" class="clearfix">
<div id="jasdl-subnav"><ul id="jasdl-subnav202"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem263"><a href="/en/news/indonesia" class=" first-item" id="menu263" title="Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem445"><a href="/en/news/timor-leste" id="menu445" title="Timor Leste"><span class="menu-title">Timor Leste</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem443"><a href="/en/news/north-korea" id="menu443" title="North Korea"><span class="menu-title">North Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem442"><a href="/en/news/japan" id="menu442" title="Japan"><span class="menu-title">Japan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem441"><a href="/en/news/nepal" id="menu441" title="Nepal"><span class="menu-title">Nepal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem436"><a href="/en/news/malaysia" id="menu436" title="Malaysia"><span class="menu-title">Malaysia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem382"><a href="/en/news/thailand" id="menu382" title="Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem380"><a href="/en/news/philippines" id="menu380" title="Philippines"><span class="menu-title">Philippines</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem384"><a href="/en/news/vietnam" id="menu384" title="Vietnam"><span class="menu-title">Vietnam</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem385"><a href="/en/news/cambodia" id="menu385" title="Cambodia"><span class="menu-title">Cambodia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem204"><a href="/en/news/china" id="menu204" title="China"><span class="menu-title">China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem378"><a href="/en/news/south-korea" id="menu378" title="South Korea"><span class="menu-title">South Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem372"><a href="/en/news/sri-lanka" id="menu372" title="Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem379"><a href="/en/news/afghanistan" id="menu379" title="Afghanistan"><span class="menu-title">Afghanistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem386"><a href="/en/news/pakistan" id="menu386" title="Pakistan"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem377"><a href="/en/news/bangladesh" id="menu377" title="Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem374"><a href="/en/news/india" id="menu374" title="India"><span class="menu-title">India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem373"><a href="/en/news/burma" id="menu373" title="Burma"><span class="menu-title">Burma</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem387"><a href="/en/news/australia" id="menu387" title="Australia"><span class="menu-title">Australia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem420"><a href="/en/news/laos" id="menu420" title="Laos"><span class="menu-title">Laos</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem388"><a href="/en/news/others" id="menu388" title="Others"><span class="menu-title">Others</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem485"><a href="/en/news/quiz" id="menu485" title="Quiz"><span class="menu-title">Quiz</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem512"><a href="/en/news/asia-calling-video" class=" last-item" id="menu512" title="Asia Calling Video"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling Video</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav359"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem500"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-migrant-workers" class=" first-item" id="menu500" title="Indonesia Migrant Workers"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Migrant Workers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem499"><a href="/en/special-reports/sex-workers-stories-from-across-asia" id="menu499" title="Sex workers stories from across asia"><span class="menu-title">Sex workers stories from across asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem498"><a href="/en/special-reports/indian-music-rocks-the-world" id="menu498" title="Indian music rocks the world"><span class="menu-title">Indian music rocks the world</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem491"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-circle-of-violence-in-khasmir" id="menu491" title="A Circle of Violence in Khasmir"><span class="menu-title">A Circle of Violence in Khasmir</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem490"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-rare-glimpse-inside-bangladesh-tea-estates" id="menu490" title="A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates"><span class="menu-title">A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem488"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-burma-ahead-of-the-election" id="menu488" title="Inside Burma Ahead of the Election"><span class="menu-title">Inside Burma Ahead of the Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem486"><a href="/en/special-reports/private-security-a-booming-industry-in-asia" id="menu486" title="Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem484"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-ties-with-china" id="menu484" title="North Korea’s ties with China"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s ties with China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem483"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-in-kerala-india" id="menu483" title="Life in Kerala India"><span class="menu-title">Life in Kerala India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem482"><a href="/en/special-reports/dying-for-music-in-pakistans-frontier-province" id="menu482" title="Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province"><span class="menu-title">Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem481"><a href="/en/special-reports/desperate-nurses-in-bangladesh" id="menu481" title="Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem480"><a href="/en/special-reports/nepal-feels-the-heat-of-climate-change" id="menu480" title="Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change"><span class="menu-title">Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem479"><a href="/en/special-reports/shangrila-made-in-china" id="menu479" title="Shangrila Made in China"><span class="menu-title">Shangrila Made in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem478"><a href="/en/special-reports/burmas-controversial-election" id="menu478" title="Burma’s Controversial Election"><span class="menu-title">Burma’s Controversial Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem477"><a href="/en/special-reports/after-the-war-the-hard-work-begins-in-sri-lanka" id="menu477" title="After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem458"><a href="/en/special-reports/bangladesh-battles-its-past-and-future" id="menu458" title="Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem455"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-laos-the-battery-of-south-east-asia-" id="menu455" title="Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia"><span class="menu-title">Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem453"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-amazon-of-the-sea-under-threat" id="menu453" title="The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat"><span class="menu-title">The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem454"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-citarum-river" id="menu454" title="Indonesia Citarum River"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Citarum River</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem450"><a href="/en/special-reports/last-tango-in-tokyo-for-japanese-migrants" id="menu450" title="Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants"><span class="menu-title">Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem449"><a href="/en/special-reports/on-vietnams-coast-bigger-is-betteror-is-it" id="menu449" title="On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?"><span class="menu-title">On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem448"><a href="/en/special-reports/kashmirs-cultural-revival-" id="menu448" title="Kashmir’s Cultural Revival"><span class="menu-title">Kashmir’s Cultural Revival</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem447"><a href="/en/special-reports/rohingya-journey" id="menu447" title="Rohingya Journey"><span class="menu-title">Rohingya Journey</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem446"><a href="/en/special-reports/dreamtime-wisdom-and-modern-vision-of-aboriginal" id="menu446" title="Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal"><span class="menu-title">Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem431"><a href="/en/special-reports/living-with-nature" id="menu431" title="Living with nature"><span class="menu-title">Living with nature</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem430"><a href="/en/special-reports/education-in-south-thailand-engulfed-in-fear" id="menu430" title="Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear"><span class="menu-title">Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem429"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threat-the-impact-of-climate-change" id="menu429" title="Earth under threat: the impact of climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat: the impact of climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem428"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threatsolutions-to-slow-climate-change" id="menu428" title="Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem427"><a href="/en/special-reports/mindanao-muddle-insight-into-the-conflict" id="menu427" title="Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict"><span class="menu-title">Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem426"><a href="/en/special-reports/changing-cambodia-the-winners-and-losers" id="menu426" title="Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers"><span class="menu-title">Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem432"><a href="/en/special-reports/inspiring-women" id="menu432" title="Inspiring Women"><span class="menu-title">Inspiring Women</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem424"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-unsung-heros-of-burmas-cyclone-relief-effort" id="menu424" title="The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort"><span class="menu-title">The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem425"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-rising-price-of-food-across-asia-what-has-gone-wrong" id="menu425" title="The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong"><span class="menu-title">The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem421"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-frontline-victims-of-the-war-on-terror" id="menu421" title="The frontline victims of the war on terror"><span class="menu-title">The frontline victims of the war on terror</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem422"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-murky-world-of-coal-mining-in-china" id="menu422" title="The murky world of coal mining in China"><span class="menu-title">The murky world of coal mining in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem423"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-on-the-border-exile-burmese-in-thailand" id="menu423" title="Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem501"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesias-mega-food-estate" id="menu501" title="Indonesia's Mega Food Estate"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia's Mega Food Estate</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem502"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-heir-apparent" id="menu502" title="North Korea’s Heir apparent"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s Heir apparent</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem504"><a href="/en/special-reports/pakistan-eunuchs-finally-recognized-as-citizens" class=" last-item" id="menu504" title="Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav181"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem496"><a href="/en/download/january-december-2011" class=" first-item" id="menu496" title="January - December 2011"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2011</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem452"><a href="/en/download/january-september-2010" id="menu452" title="January - December 2010"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2010</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem451"><a href="/en/download/oktober-desember-2009" id="menu451" title="Oktober - Desember 2009"><span class="menu-title">Oktober - Desember 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem444"><a href="/en/download/july-september-2009" id="menu444" title="July - September 2009"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem439"><a href="/en/download/april-june-2009" id="menu439" title="April - June 2009"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem396"><a href="/en/download/podcast" id="menu396" title="January - March 2009"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem404"><a href="/en/download/oktober-desember-2008" id="menu404" title="October - December 2008"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem405"><a href="/en/download/july-september-2008" id="menu405" title="July - September 2008"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem406"><a href="/en/download/april-june-2008" id="menu406" title="April - June 2008"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem407"><a href="/en/download/january-march-2008" id="menu407" title="January - March 2008"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem408"><a href="/en/download/october-december-2007" id="menu408" title="October - December 2007"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem412"><a href="/en/download/july-september-2007" id="menu412" title="July - September 2007"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem413"><a href="/en/download/april-june-2007" class=" last-item" id="menu413" title="April - June 2007"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2007</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav176"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem177"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-asia" class=" first-item" id="menu177" title="Stations in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem178"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-indonesia" class=" last-item" id="menu178" title="Stations in Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Indonesia</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav166"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem167"><a href="/en/about-us/asia-calling-a-kbr68h" class=" first-item" id="menu167" title="Asia Calling & KBR68H"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling & KBR68H</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem168"><a href="/en/about-us/producers" id="menu168" title="Producers"><span class="menu-title">Producers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem169"><a href="/en/about-us/correspondents" id="menu169" title="Correspondents"><span class="menu-title">Correspondents</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem370"><a href="/en/about-us/media-development" id="menu370" title="Media Development"><span class="menu-title">Media Development</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem495"><a href="/en/about-us/partner-station" id="menu495" title="Regional Partners"><span class="menu-title">Regional Partners</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem506"><a href="/en/about-us/media-partner" class=" last-item" id="menu506" title="Media Partner"><span class="menu-title">Media Partner</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav471"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem472"><a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now" class=" active first-item" id="menu472" title="Learn Now!"><span class="menu-title">Learn Now!</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem505"><a href="/en/learn-english/asia-music" id="menu505" title="Asia Music"><span class="menu-title">Asia Music</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem497"><a href="http://www.radioforeducation.org/" target="_blank" class=" last-item" id="menu497" title="Blog: radioforeducation.org"><span class="menu-title">Blog: radioforeducation.org</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav492"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem493"><a href="/en/asia-forum/asia-forum-2010" class=" first-item" id="menu493" title="Asia Forum 2010"><span class="menu-title">Asia Forum 2010</span></a></li></ul></div></div>
</div>
<!-- END: MAIN NAVIGATION -->
<div id="ja-containerwrap-m" class="clearfix">
<div id="ja-container" class="clearfix">
<!-- BEGIN: CONTENT -->
<div id="ja-content">
<div id="ja-current-content">
<div class="ja-wrap-center"><div class="ja-wrap-top"><div class="ja-wrap-bot">
<div id="ja-pathway">
<span class="breadcrumbs pathway">
<a href="/" class="pathway">Home</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/learn-english" class="pathway">Learn English</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now" class="pathway">Learn Now!</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> Ai Weiwei: Free But Gagged</span>
</div>
<h2 class="contentheading">
Ai Weiwei: Free But Gagged </h2>
<div class="article-toolswrap">
<div class="article-tools clearfix">
<div class="article-meta">
<span class="createdate">
Saturday, 02 July 2011 13:10 </span>
<span class="createby">
Ric Wasserman </span>
</div>
<div class="buttonheading">
<span>
<a href="/en/component/mailto/tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hc2lhY2FsbGluZy5vcmcvZW4vbGVhcm4tZW5nbGlzaC9sZWFybi1ub3cvMjA5NS1haS13ZWl3ZWktZnJlZS1idXQtZ2FnZ2Vk" title="E-mail" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','width=400,height=350,menubar=yes,resizable=yes'); return false;"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/emailButton.png" alt="E-mail"/></a> </span>
<span>
<a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=" title="Print" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/printButton.png" alt="Print"/></a> </span>
<span>
<a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now/2095-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged?format=pdf" title="PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/pdf_button.png" alt="PDF"/></a> </span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="article-content">
<div id="jabookmarkWapper"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><img src="/images/stories/demo/ac/china_ai_wei_web_110702.jpg" title="Photo: Ric Wasserman" class="caption" align="left"/></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="1pixelout"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="plugins/content/1pixelout/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" height="24" width="200">
<param name="movie" value="/plugins/content/1pixelout/player.swf"/>
<param name="FlashVars" value="bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xE8E8E8&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0x666666&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=0x666666&border=0x666666&loader=0x666666&loop=yes&playerID=1&soundFile=/images/podcast/Data_020711/China_Ai_WeiWei_FINAL_bhs_inggris_110702.mp3"/>
<param name="quality" value="high"/>
<param name="menu" value="false"/>
<param name="wmode" value="transparent"/>
</object>
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="/en/component/docman/doc_download/1385-ai-weiwei-free-but-gagged"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Download</span></a> Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has been released after nearly three months of detention. </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>But the outspoken, regime critical artist has been forced to remain quiet and to stay in China, a condition for his release.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>But what do people know about his art, aside from the fact he designed the chinese Olympic stadium, the ”birds nest”?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Our reporter Ric Wasserman went to New York City to find out. </strong></p>
<strong> </strong>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The set of 12 bronze animal head <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>sculptures</strong></span>, the chinese signs of the zodiac, reflect the sunlight splashing up from their venue at the Pulitzer fountain in midtown New York City.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The zodiac heads, copies of those <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>pillaged</strong></span> by english soldiers from a Beijing <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>monastary</strong></span> in the 19 century weigh three tons each.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">They were made by the chinese artist Ai Weiwei.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The works have caught the interest of many as they pass the exhibition on 57th street.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">”We read about it in New York magazine, We also heard about on the news that the mayor had made an effort to try and get the artist to come to NY and obviously failed to convince the chinese authorities to release him. But we think that these are just marvelous representations and <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>tremendous</strong></span> work.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The artist Ai Weiwei has just been released after being arrested at Beijing airport on April third.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Never formally charged, he was told his crime was <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>tax evasion</strong></span>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In reality Ai Weiwei’s imprisonment was likely due to his harsh criticism of the Chinese government.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He lashed out through his blog at the corruption involved in the building of poorly constructed schools which collapsed during the earthquake in Sichuan in 2008, killing 70, 000.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">5000 of the dead were school children.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A local school class is here today at the exhibition in Manhattan, craning their necks at the huge zodiac heads of a goat, dog and ox and other animals, trying to figure out what sign of the zodiac they are:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">”I like the dragon because I’ve never seen a real live dragon before.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But sculptures like the zodiac heads are one of many types of styles and forms Ai Weiwei works in.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A short underground ride away in the Chelsea district is the largest gallery of contemporary chinese art in the US, Chambers Fine Art .</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">They have a large collection of the works of Ai Weiwei.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">David Clements is the director.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">”I think Ai Weiwei is really unique amongst chinese artists and to a large degree he’s really different from any artist in the world today. Which is I think part of the reason he’s become such a prominent global figure. There are few examples of artists today who truly live their life...there’s no distiction between their art and their life. That is true of Ai Weiwei, and that is why his politics have become such a big part of his art, his social stances. There’s almost no distinction and that makes him unique from both chinese artists and western artists in general.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Most chinese artists are extremely proud of the great advances the country has made, says David Clements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But Ai Weiweis criticism of the rulers and his stand for human rights has<span style="color: #800000;"><strong> cowed</strong></span> many chinese artists to silence.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">”A lot of them respect Ai Weiwei but at the same time don’t want to speak too negatively about the country they’re proud of. So it’s a difficult situation. On one hand they want to support the artist but they also don’t want to attack their country, because they are very patriotic and proud.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But what about Ai Weweis artistic influences?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Chambers Fine Art gallery director David Clements says Ai Weiwei was always fascinated by the thought of just what makes something art?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ai Weiwei found a 5000 year old <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>urn</strong></span> in a Beijing market and painted the Coca-Cola logo on it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">”He became very interested in what, where is the value in what these objects come from? And this ties back to his probably greatest artistic influence who is Marcel Duchamp. Marcel Duchamp is of course famous for his readymades and taking an ordinary object and questioning its value and maybe calling it art. His most famous is his toilet bowl piece that he put in a museum and said, does it have value because its now in a museum? Ai Weiwei began to do the same thing with these old objects and it's a a real question of: is it art? Is it real? Is it fake?”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So it’s no wonder that Ai Weiwei is called the chinese Andy Warhol.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But while Andy Warhol was a master at commercializing the <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>mundane</strong></span>, Ai Weiwei often makes the physical connection between art and real life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When he went to Sechuan after the 2008 earthquake, he created an installation called ”Remembering” shown at Haus de Kunst in Munich Germany.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It’s made of 9,000 childrens backpacks, in a clear reference to the loss of children’s lives due to <span style="color: #800000;"><strong>shoddy</strong></span> building practices linked to official corruption.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ai Weiwei said at the opening: ”The lives of the students disappeared within the state propaganda and very soon everybody will forget everything.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This got him into serious trouble leading to a beating by chinese police which put him in the hospital. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Two years later he was jailed, starting a worldwide appeal for his freedom and for human rights in general in China.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">24 blocks south of the fountain where Ai Weiweis ”Zodiac Heads” are displayed is the symbol of New York City.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Empire State Building. The organisation Human Rights in China is located on the 33rd floor. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Its founder, Gao Wenquin was once the Chinese Communist Party’s official biographer, until the Tienamin Square demonstrations, when he sided with the students and fled to the US.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Gao Wenquin sees Ai Weiwei as a unique artist:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">”You can say that Ai Weiwei is a chinese artist with conscience. In China today such a person like him is very rare. The one thing the government is really upset about is Ai Weiweis challenge of the political system. We need to put the detention of Ai Weiwei in a bigger perspective. Because of the accumulated social conflicts during the past 20 years you can say that right now China is like a powderkeg. It’s approaching a breaking point.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is the first time pressure from the international community has forced the chinese to make a concession on a political dissident.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">LEARN ENGLISH: </span></b><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Vocabs: </b></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br/><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>1) gagged: <span style="color: #000080;">dibungkam </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>2) monastary: <span style="color: #000080;">biara untuk para </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>3) tremendous: <span style="color: #000080;">sangat besar, luarbiasa </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>4) mundane: <span style="color: #000080;">duniawi, membosankan </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>5) shoddy: <span style="color: #000080;">buruk </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>6) sculpture: <span style="color: #000080;">seni pahat, patung </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>7) pillaged: <span style="color: #000080;">dijarah/dirampas </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>8) tax evasion: <span style="color: #000080;">penghindaraan pajak</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>9) cowed: meanukut-takuti10) urn: <span style="color: #000080;">kendi/kuali </span></strong></span><br/> <br/><br/><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Questions:</span></b><br/><br/>1) Why was Ai Weiwei in prison?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">2) Why is he forced to stay in China after being released </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">3) What are some of his recent artwork and where are they displayed?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Why is Ai Weiwei called the Chineses Andy Warhol?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">4) Who is Gao Wenquin and what did he say about Ai Weiwei?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">5) Where was the installation 'Remembering' exhibitted how and what is it about?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p></div>
<span class="modifydate">
Last Updated ( Monday, 04 July 2011 18:08 )
</span>
<span class="article_separator"> </span>
<script type="text/javascript">
var jcomments=new JComments(2095, 'com_content','index.php?option=com_jcomments&tmpl=component&lang=');
jcomments.setList('comments-list');
</script>
<div id="jc">
<div id="comments"><div class="comments-list" id="comments-list-0"></div>
</div>
<h4>Add comment</h4>
<a id="addcomments" href="#addcomments"></a>
<form id="comments-form" name="comments-form" action="javascript:void(null);">
<div class="comments-policy">Asia Calling House Rules for Comments:<br/>We reserve the right to fail messages that:<br/>· Are likely to provoke, attack or offend others<br/>· Are racist, homophobic or sexists or otherwise objectionable<br/>· Contain swear words or other language likely to offend<br/>· Break the law or encourage illegal behavior<br/>· Include contact details including number or email address<br/>· Are considered to be advertising or promoting a product or SPAM<br/>· Are considered off-topic</div>
<p>
<input id="comments-form-name" type="text" name="name" value="" maxlength="20" size="22" tabindex="1"/>
<label for="comments-form-name">Name (required)</label>
</p>
<p>
<input id="comments-form-email" type="text" name="email" value="" size="22" tabindex="2"/>
<label for="comments-form-email">E-mail (required)</label>
</p>
<p>
<input id="comments-form-homepage" type="text" name="homepage" value="" size="22" tabindex="3"/>
<label for="comments-form-homepage">Website</label>
</p>
<p>
<textarea id="comments-form-comment" name="comment" cols="65" rows="8" tabindex="5"></textarea>
</p>
<p>
<input class="checkbox" id="comments-form-subscribe" type="checkbox" name="subscribe" value="1" tabindex="5"/>
<label for="comments-form-subscribe">Notify me of follow-up comments</label><br/>
</p>
<p>
<img class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');" id="comments-form-captcha-image" name="captcha-image" src="/index.phpoption=com_jcomments&task=captcha&tmpl=component&ac=91825" width="120" height="60" alt="Security code"/><br/>
<span class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');">Refresh</span><br/>
<input class="captcha" id="comments-form-captcha" type="text" name="captcha-refid" value="" size="5" tabindex="6"/><br/>
</p>
<div id="comments-form-buttons">
<div class="btn" id="comments-form-send"><div><a href="#" tabindex="7" onclick="jcomments.saveComment();return false;" title="Send (Ctrl+Enter)">Send</a></div></div>
<div class="btn" id="comments-form-cancel" style="display:none;"><div><a href="#" tabindex="8" onclick="return false;" title="Cancel">Cancel</a></div></div>
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
</div>
<input type="hidden" name="object_id" value="2095"/>
<input type="hidden" name="object_group" value="com_content"/>
</form>
<script type="text/javascript">
function JCommentsInitializeForm()
{
var jcEditor = new JCommentsEditor('comments-form-comment', true);
jcEditor.addButton('b','Bold','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('i','Italic','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('u','Underlined','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('s','Striked','Enter text');
jcEditor.addButton('img','Image','Enter full URL to the image');
jcEditor.addButton('url','Link','Enter full URL');
jcEditor.addButton('quote','Quote','Enter text to quote');
jcEditor.initSmiles('/components/com_jcomments/images/smiles');
jcEditor.addSmile(':D','laugh.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':lol:','lol.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-)','smile.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(';-)','wink.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile('8)','cool.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-|','normal.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-*','whistling.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':oops:','redface.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':sad:','sad.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':cry:','cry.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':o','surprised.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-?','confused.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':-x','sick.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':eek:','shocked.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':zzz','sleeping.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':P','tongue.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':roll:','rolleyes.gif');
jcEditor.addSmile(':sigh:','unsure.gif');
jcEditor.addCounter(1000, '', ' symbols left', 'counter');
jcomments.setForm(new JCommentsForm('comments-form', jcEditor));
}
setTimeout(JCommentsInitializeForm, 100);
</script>
<div id="comments-footer" align="center"><a href="http://www.joomlatune.com/" title="JComments" target="_blank">JComments</a></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
jcomments.setAntiCache(1,0,0);
</script>
</div>
</div></div></div>
<!-- BEGIN: JAZIN -->
<!-- END: JAZIN -->
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: CONTENT -->
<!-- BEGIN: COLUMNS -->
<div id="ja-colwrap">
<!-- BEGIN: MASSCOL -->
<div id="ja-colmass" class="clearfix">
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="/en/component/jcomments/task=rss&object_id=2095&object_group=com_content&tmpl=component">
<img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/livemarks.png" alt="feed-image"/> <span>Asia Calling</span></a> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div align="center"><a target="_blank" title="Podcast" href="/en/component/podcast/view=feed&format=raw"><img src="/images/stories/subscribe-podcast_logo.png" height="88" width="106"/></a> <a target="_blank" title="Twitter Asia Calling" href="http://twitter.com/#!/asiacalling"><img src="/images/stories/twitter_followus.png" height="86" width="108"/></a> </div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div align="center">
<div style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="/en/news/quiz?task=quiz&quizId=38"><img src="/images/stories/quiz-icon.gif" border="0"/></a></div>
</div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="module_blank">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div align="center">
<div style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="/en/learn-english/asia-music"><img src="/images/stories/asia-music.gif"/></a></div>
</div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: MASSCOL -->
<div id="ja-cols" class="clearfix">
</div>
</div><br/>
<!-- END: COLUMNS -->
</div></div>
<!-- BEGIN: FOOTER -->
<div id="ja-footerwrap" class="clearfix">
<div id="ja-footer">
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ccffff;">Asia Calling owns all right, title and interest, including the copyright(s), and has the exclusive perpetual worldwide right to use, in whole or in part, and in all manner and media, all material provided to Asia Calling by its Correspondents, with no further obligation to the Correspondent. <br/></span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: FOOTER -->
<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl./" : "20110825100859/http://www./");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-18317669-1");
pageTracker._trackPageview();
} catch(err) {}</script>
<span id="jabookmark-container" style="display:none " class="ja-social-bookmarking">
<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">addthis_pub="joomlart";addthis_header_color="#000000";addthis_header_background="#999999";addthis_brand="joomlart.com";addthis_language="en";addthis_options="";addthis_offset_top="";addthis_offset_left="";</script><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, '', '[URL]', '[TITLE]')" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" border="0" alt=""/> </a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/200/addthis_widget.js"></script></span>
<script type="text/javascript">
window.addEvent('domready', function(){
holder = $('jabookmark-container');
wapper = $('jabookmarkWapper');
if (holder && wapper) {
holder.setStyle('display','block');
wapper.replaceWith( holder.remove() );
}
});
</script>
</body>
</html>