Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist. He produces traditional, Performance Art|performance and conceptual art. He is also educated in film-making and works as an architectural designer.

Ai Weiwei has distanced himself from his work on the Beijing National Stadium. He is openly critical of the Chinese government's preparations for the 2008 Olympics. Ai alleges that its spirit of openness and reform is merely a facade to improve the country's international image.CNN.com: Chinese architect slams Olympic 'pretend smile' (August 13, 2007)

"The government wants to use [the 2008 Olympics] to celebrate itself and its policy of opening up China. But there isn't anything to celebrate. The political system is incapable of handling economic and social change."Speigel Online: 'The Olympics Are a Propaganda Show' (January 29, 2008) -Ai Weiwei

• Official Site: Aiweiwei.com
• Wikipedia: Ai Weiei
• Spiegel Online: "The Olympics Are a Propaganda Show" (January 29, 2008)
  • "The government wants to use these games to celebrate itself and its policy of opening up China. But there isn't anything to celebrate. The political system is incapable of handling economic and social change. Now the system that caused these problems in the first place is struggling to remain in power. And who pays the price? Every individual in this society."
• The Art Newspaper: "Ai Weiwei’s Spider’s Web for Liverpool" (November 29, 2007)
• CNN: "Chinese Architect Slams Olympic 'Pretend Smile'" (August 13, 2007)
• The Guardian: "Olympic Artist Attacks China's Pomp and Propaganda" (August 9, 2007)
• Archinet: "Ai Weiwei : Fragments, Voids, Sections and Rings" (December 5, 2006)
• YouTube: Stadium Designer Blasts China Olympics (Time: 02:17)