This week Chinese officials detained famous artist Ai Weiwei at his home in Beijing. The officials were responding to a politically charged party the artist was planning to host in order to promote Liu Xiaobo's winning of this years Nobel Peace Prize. The party was supposed to take pace at Weiwei's newly built million dollar studio that is now scheduled to be demolished.
Ai Weiwei is not only a renowned artist in China, he is also a major political demonstrator promoting freedom of expression in China. Because of this, the artist has constant run-ins with Chinese authorities. Apparently on Friday an unmarked van without license plates pulled in front of Mr. Weiwei's driveway and forbade him from leaving. BBC reports that there were at least 10 men in the van. The officers were wearing plain clothes so as to not draw much attention. The party was still held, organized by hundreds of Weiwei's frineds. The artist said "the fact that the party was still held is a sign of how China is changing." As to his house arrest, he said: "They cannot let anything happen if they don't understand it"
The newly built million dollar studio is planned to be demolished due to certain legal regulations that were reportedly not followed during its construction. "Ai's studio did not go through the application procedures, therefore, it is an illegal building," Chen Jie, the director of urban construction in the section the studio is located said to the Global Times. It seems quite convenient for the government that this application process was not filled out.
The Chinese government has also recently warned various governments that there will be "consequences" if any of them show favor or support toward Liu Xiaobo's Peace Prize. The ceremony however is still being planned for December 10th in Oslo.
Video of Ai Weiwei's newest art piece: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11515658
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/China-Releases-Dissident-Artist-Ai-106862354.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11701725
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11703775
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