Born in Beijing in 1957, Ai Weiwei is one of the most influential artists at work today and has exhibited widely in Asia, Europe and North America. He is the first artist living and working in the Asia-Pacific region to be commissioned as part of the Unilever Series to create an artwork for the vast Turbine Hall at Tate Modern. Ai Weiwei has said "Liberty is about the right to question everything". His works in a wide range of media are characterized by social and political engagement and a constantly enquiring mind. Whether as an artist, curator, critic, designer or architect, he has played a key part in contemporary Chinese art and culture of the past two decades, not least through his collaboration with architects Herzog & de Meuron in designing the 'Bird's Nest' stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Published to accompany Ai Weiwei's first major large-scale commission in Britain, this book will provide important insights into the creative processes of one of the most exciting and dynamic contemporary artists.