Ai Weiwei Builds a 'Belonging' With 30,000-Square-Foot Studio in Portugal, His Exile Home
-
Ai Weiwei is constructing a new 30,000-square-foot studio in Portugal, modeled after his destroyed studio in Shanghai but with some subversive tweaks.
-
The studio's frame uses ancient Chinese joinery techniques and is a tribute to traditional Chinese architecture.
-
Ai has become increasingly isolated living in exile, retreating to the Portuguese countryside after years of activism and clashes with Chinese authorities.
-
The studio is Ai's attempt to create a sense of belonging, though he feels detached from China and still causes controversy with his unfiltered social media presence.
-
Ai fills his home with pets to make it feel lively, transforms ordinary objects into conceptual art, and continues speaking out, believing controversial voices should not be silenced.