Study of Perspective - Eiffel Tower

1981–1993

Discovers Duchamp, Warhol and Johns

In the United States Ai came to know the work of Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns and began making conceptual art by altering readymade objects.

1981–1993

Friendship with Allen Ginsberg

In New York Ai met the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg by chance at a poetry reading where Ginsberg read poems about China. Ginsberg had travelled to China and met Ai’s father, the poet Ai Qing, and so the two became friends.

1993

Returns to China because of his father’s illness

In 1993, after twelve years in the United States, Ai returned to China because his father had fallen ill.

1994

Founds the “China Art Archives and Warehouse”

In Beijing Ai founded the China Art Archives and Warehouse and became its director.

2003

Design expert for the Olympic stadium

Working with Herzog & de Meuron, Ai became a special design expert for the National Stadium of the 2008 Olympic Games, the “Bird’s Nest”.

19 November 2005

Starts a blog

Invited by Sina, China’s biggest internet platform, Ai started a blog; for four years he posted scathing social commentary, criticism of government policy, and thoughts on art and architecture.