Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has earned international acclaim for his work in sculpture, installation, photography, film and more. He was catapulted to prominence for his collaboration with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron in the design of the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics. But that did not stop him from earning the ire and persecution of the Chinese government for criticizing its record on democracy and human rights. Following several instances of intimidation, including a police beating and house arrest, Weiwei was detained at the Beijing International Airport in April 2011. After 81 days he was released without charge, yet still remains under surveillance and is unable to leave China. In his latest exhibition, @Large, Weiwei uses the famed prison island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, CA, as the setting for his exploration of incarceration and prisoners of conscience. As FOR-SITE Foundation Executive Director and @Large curator Cheryl Haines told Public Art Review, Weiwei's Alcatraz works are meant to explore concepts of freedom, human rights, and our responsibility as global citizens to ensure that these values are upheld. In the exhibition, Weiwei draws attention to the plight of political prisoners as well as both the efforts and repression of pro-democracy and human rights campaigners from around the globe.
