Abstract
The relationship between art and politics has been prevalent throughout art history. However, few artists have been so explicit in relating their work to a political situation as Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. Ai Weiwei's conceptual ideas have informed his use of multiple types of media including sculpture, architecture and the Internet in order to draw attention to the political climate in China under a Communist government. Ai Weiwei has also commented on the politics of the international art world, questioning issues of authenticity, value and culture. It was because of his strongly anti-authoritarian art and increasing political activism that Ai Weiwei became an internationally renowned artist. This dissident art practice ultimately led to Ai Weiwei's high-profile arrest by Chinese authorities in 2011.