Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei Released on Bail

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has returned home having been freed after more than two months’ in detention. He was bailed late on Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges of tax evasion, Xinhua news agency said.

There has been a global campaign for the release of the often outspoken critic of China’s human rights record. There are numerous reports indicating various reasons for his release. Xinhua also reported that Mr Ai was suffering from a “chronic illness” and that he had offered to repay the taxes and would be released because of “his good attitude in confessing his crimes”.

The 54-year-old said he was back home and in good health in a phone interview with the BBC.

“I am already home, released on bail, I can’t talk to media but I am well, thanks for all the media attention,” he said.

Who is Ai Weiwei?

Well for those of you living under a rock, Ai Weiwei is arguably one of China’s largest art exports. He is perhaps most famous for helping design the Bird’s Nest stadium that became the centre-piece for Beijing’s 2008 Olympics.

Ai Weiwei gained international recognition in the early 1980s for his monolithic brick sculptures, more recently, he unveiled a carpet of 100 million porcelain sunflower seeds at London’s Tate Modern, which we posted about here on Dont Party [CLICK]

After his detention he became a “symbol” for many regarding China’s human rights record. Large scale appeals have happened around the world regarding his detention. British sculptor Anish Kapoor, who had led criticism of Beijing over the detention, called for the artist to be given a fair trial.

The Indian-born sculptor had dedicated his monumental Leviathan art installation in Paris, unveiled last month, to Mr Ai.