Ai Weiwei: Sewing a Button

A black-and-white image of Ai Weiwei sitting upright on a small stool in a sparse, cell-like room. He faces the camera with his hands resting on his knees. Behind him is a white brick wall, and to his right there is a simple metal bed frame with a thin mattress. The lighting is stark, casting strong shadows on the wall and floor, giving the scene a stark, surveillance-like atmosphere
Image credit: Courtesy of Artist

Experience a powerful live artwork by internationally renowned artist Ai Weiwei.

Sewing a Button is a 24-hour performance inspired by Ai Weiwei’s secret detention in China in 2011. Inside a recreation of his prison cell, the artist re-enacts daily life during his imprisonment, from eating and sleeping to being questioned by authorities.

Thought-provoking and deeply personal, the work explores freedom, power and the impact of political oppression on individual lives.

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