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Ai Weiwei on Censorship

A Sunday Times Bestseller
Brief Description
A thought-provoking work by a singular voice, this short, sharp essay invites us to critically reconsider power, ideology and the boundaries of free speech. Invisible, invasive and widely taken for granted, censorship is a globalized force as much driven by commercial interests as political agendas. Ai... Read More
Format: Hardback
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Artist and activist Ai Weiwei examines censorship and self-censorship, through the lens of his compelling personal history, offering readers profound insights into an important topic of current and perpetual relevance.

A thought-provoking work by a singular voice, this short, sharp essay invites us to critically reconsider power, ideology and the boundaries of free speech

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A thought-provoking work by a singular voice, this short, sharp essay invites us to critically reconsider power, ideology and the boundaries of free speech.

Invisible, invasive and widely taken for granted, censorship is a globalized force as much driven by commercial interests as political agendas. Ai Weiwei on Censorship by Ai Weiwei - artist, activist and one of the world's most influential cultural figures - has first-hand experience of its power. In this urgent piece of writing, he makes a rallying cry for free speech in an age shaped by big data, mass surveillance and intrusive new technologies of control.

Ai Weiwei examines how censorship persists both in the overt propagandizing and redactions of authoritarian regimes, as well as subtly within democratic frameworks, exploring how international corporations, cultural institutions, social media and so-called ideologies of 'freedom' have provided fertile ground for new, more insidious, suppressions.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780500030820

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 29 January 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Illustration: 10 Illustrations, color

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 110.0mm

Height: 176.0mm

Weight: 180g

Pages: 88

About the Author

Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian and activist. He is the recipient of the 2022 Praemium Imperiale for sculpture from the Japan Art Association in Tokyo, the 2015 Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International and the 2012 VΓ‘clav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent from the Human Rights Foundation. His most recent book is 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows.

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