Ai Weiwei: A Day With China's Most Famous Dissident

On assignment for Newsweek, Beijing based photographer Adam Dean shot a series of photos of China’s famous conceptual artist on November 6, 2011 at his studio in the capital.  In the three months following his release from prison, Ai Weiwei had hesitated about publicizing the details of his detainment, aside from joking that it helped him lose some of his bulky physique. Ai’s silence was partially a condition of his release and he claimed the Chinese government had warned him not to talk about his experience.  But since his release, Ai has still resumed his criticism of the government on his Twitter account to which the state responded by charging him with owing $2.4 million in back taxes for a company he doesn’t own. Supporters have donated money online and in cash toward the debt.