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Ai Weiwei

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Architect

The Resume

    (1957- )
    Born in Beijing, China
    Artist, sculptor, performance artist, curator and architect
    Founding member of the avant-garde art group Stars (1978)
    Designed several buildings in Caochangdi, an artists' colony on the outskirts of Beijing
    Designed the Beijing National Stadium ('The Bird's Nest') for the 2008 Olympics
    Received a lifetime achievement award from the Chinese Contemporary Arts Awards (2008)

Why he might be annoying:

    The New York Times called him 'a figure of Warholian celebrity in China.'
    When his 39-foot tall sculpture 'Template' collapsed in a storm, he said, 'It's better than before.'
    He was co-curator of an exhibition titled 'Fuck Off,' to which he contributed a set of photos of himself giving the finger in front of various landmarks and another set of him dropping and breaking a Han Dynasty vase.
    Despite designing the Olympic Stadium, he criticized directors Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou for participating in the opening ceremonies, saying 'I don't like anyone who shamelessly abuses their profession, who makes no moral judgment.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    Growing up, he spent five years in a re-education camp after his parents were denounced during the Cultural Revolution.
    He is an advocate for democracy in China.
    He described the Chinese government's opening ceremonies for the Olympics as a 'pretend smile.'
    The government shut down his blog over his attempts to document student deaths caused by shoddy school construction during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 20 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 20 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 59.09% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 48.28% Annoying