The Art Newspaper

Ai Weiwei publishes images of himself in hospital on Twitter

Injuries sustained after artist was attacked by Chinese police

By Chris Gill. Web only
Published online: 16 September 2009

Beijing. Leading Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has had surgery in Munich, Germany, following an assault on him in mid-August by police in Sichuan province. Ai announced the surgery on his Twitter feed, saying a Munich surgeon recommended immediate surgery as there was bleeding in the intercranial cavity between his brain and skull.

Ai Weiwei was punched in the head and detained in a hotel room by policemen in early August, as the authorities prevented him from being a trial witness in a case against dissident Tan Zuoren. Tan is being charged with subversion and revealing state secrets.

When Ai was interviewed by The Art Newspaper in mid August he complained he was suffering from dizziness if he moved too suddenly. He has been continuously updating his Twitter feed with pictures of himself in hospital, both prior to and after surgery.

Ai’s exhibition “So Sorry” at the Haus der Kunst in Munich will open as planned on 12 October, according to the museum, which sent out a release about his injury.