In October 2010, Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds appeared in the
Turbine Hall in the Tate Modern. In April 2011, he was arrested and
held for over two months, in terrible conditions. The most famous
living Chinese artist and activist, Weiwei is a figure of
extraordinary talent, courage and integrity. From the beginning of
his career, he has spoken out against the world's greatest
totalitarian regime, in part by creating some of the most beautiful
and mysterious artworks of our age, works which have touched
millions around the world.
After Weiwei's release, Barnaby Martin dodged the secret police to
interview him about his imprisonment and his intentions. Based on
these interviews and Martin's own intimate connections with China,
Hanging Man is an exploration of Weiwei's life, art and
activism. It is a rich picture of the man and his beliefs, what he
is trying to communicate with his art, and of his campaign for
democracy and accountability in China. It is a book about courage
and hope found in the absence of freedom and justice.
