Ai Weiwei (1957–) is a Chinese contemporary artist and political activist known for working in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, and installations. Weiwei, who has shown his work internationally, was arrested by Chinese police in 2011 and detained for tax evasion, and has since not been allowed to leave the country or speak publicly about his arrest. Ai Weiwei’s work is often political, contemplative, and humorous. Many of his works, such as his Coloured Vases (2006) series, evoke a sense of emptiness.