Ai Weiwei 40th Edition, Book

As his personal circumstances move in constant flux, Ai Weiwei remains a cultural magnet. Recognised for his political activism and social media activity almost as much as for his social interventions, his contemporary approach to the ready-made and his knowledge of traditional Chinese crafts, Ai's fame extends throughout the art world and beyond.

Taken from the limited collector's edition of TASCHEN, this monograph explores each of the stages of Ai's career up until his release from Chinese custody. This book presents extensive visual material to trace Ai's development from his early days in New York to his recent practice. Standout moments include his major international breakthrough in the early 2000s, his porcelain sunflower seeds in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall, his response to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and his detention by the police in 2011. With behind-the-scenes studio photos, production footage and numerous statements derived from exclusive interviews with Ai, we have privileged access to the artist's process, influences and importance.

The book includes texts by Uli Sigg, Ai's long-time friend and former Swiss ambassador to China, and Roger M. Buergel, who curated the 2007 documenta and presented the artist's Fairytale piece.

The artist: Born in Beijing in 1957, Ai Weiwei is known for making strong aesthetic statements that resonate with today's geopolitical world. From architecture to sculpture and installations, from social media to documentaries, he uses a wide range of media to artistically examine society and its values. He is the recipient of the 2015 Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International and the 2012 Václav Havel Award for Creative Dissent from the Human Rights Foundation. Ai's first feature-length documentary, Human Flow, premiered at the 74th Venice Film Festival in competition. He currently lives and works in Cambridge and Berlin.

The editor: Hans Werner Holzwarth is a book designer and editor specialising in contemporary art and photography. His publications at TASCHEN include collector's editions of Jeff Koons, Christopher Wool, Albert Oehlen, Ai Weiwei, and the David Hockney SUMO A Bigger Book, as well as monographs such as Jean-Michel Basquiat in XXL size and survey books such as Modern Art and Art Now! Vols 3 and 4.

About the series: TASCHEN celebrates its 40th anniversary this year! Since we began our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with affordable publishing, helping book lovers around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology and erotica at an unbeatable price. In 2020, we celebrated 40 years of incredible books, staying true to our company credo. The 40 series features new editions of some of the stars of our programme-now more compact, price-friendly and still made with the same commitment to impeccable production.