Chinese artist Ai Weiwei poses in the middle of his work made of 100 pieces of trees and called "Rooted Upon" (dated 2009) at the "Haus der Kunst" (House of Art) during the presentation of his exhibition "So Sorry", on October 9, 2009 in Munich, southern Germany.
Sunflower seeds at the Tate Modern.Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's artwork 'Sunflower Seeds', the latest commission in the Unilever Series at the Tate Modern, central London. The work consists of 1000 square metres of individually handcrafted ceramic 'seeds' covering the floor of the Turbine Hall, which visitors may walk on. During the Cultural Revolution, propaganda images showed Chairman Mao as the sun and the mass of people as sunflowers turning towards him.
A woman picks up some of the handmade unique porcelain replicas of sunflower seeds, part of the art installation 'Sunflower Seeds' by Ai in London, Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. The specially commissioned art piece takes the form of a field of sunflower seeds inside the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern gallery, made of over 100 million handmade unique porcelain replicas of sunflower seeds.
Lennart Preiss / AP Photo
A woman walks along a photo triptych of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in the exhibition "Barely Something" at the DKM Museum in Duisburg, western Germany, on Wednesday, March 17, 2010.
A woman examines sculptures in the series entitled "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads" by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in the courtyard of Somerset House on May 11, 2011 in London, England. The installation comprises of 12 bronze heads of animals which feature in the Chinese zodiac.
Members of the public walk past sculptures in the series entitled "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads" by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in the courtyard of Somerset House on May 11, 2011 in London, England. The installation comprises of 12 bronze heads of animals which feature in the Chinese zodiac.
A Chinese police officer, right, and a security guard stand outside the entrance to Ai Weiwei's studio in Beijing Sunday, April 3, 2011.
Two women participate in a demonstration of hundreds of local acitvists and artists calling for the release of detained Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei in Hong Kong, China, 23 April 2011. Time Magazine named Ai one of the '100 most influential people' on 22 April. Ai was detained in Beijing on 03 April 2011 as he tried to board a flight to Hong Kong.
Ai Weiwei photographed 20 Jan 2011 in his Beijing studio after the forced demolition of his Shanghai studio by the Chinese government. Two months before his detention at Beijing airport.
Sinopix / Rex Features / AP Photo
