Ai Weiwei Absent in Taipei

Forever Bicycles

"Opposition politicians and human rights activists yesterday urged President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to invite Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei (艾未未) to Taiwan in conjunction with a solo exhibition of his works that opens at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum today.


“It’s too bad that Ai himself cannot come to Taipei to attend the opening of the exhibition,” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said at a news conference.

Since Chinese citizens are now allowed to travel independently to Taiwan, it is rather odd for Ai to be absent from the opening ceremony of his first solo exhibition in Taipei, Tien said."



Dubbed “Ai Weiwei Absent,” the exhibition will feature 21 works, including photographs, installation pieces, videos, 12 bronze heads representing Chinese zodiac symbols and a new piece consisting of about 1,000 bicycles reflecting China’s social changes.


Taipei Fine Arts Museum deputy director Liu Ming-hsing (劉明興) recently said that Ai was very excited to stage a large-scale solo exhibition in Taiwan.


“We invited him to attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition at the museum,” Liu said. “So far, he hasn’t been able to give us a definite response.”
Museum officials earlier this month said that Ai’s wife, Lu Qing (路青), plans to visit Taiwan early next month.

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Viva el arte de Cabusri>Ma urged to extend invitation to Ai Weiwei