Ai Weiwei Reenacts 2011 Detention in 24-Hour Performance

Artist and activist Ai Weiwei is staging his first durational performance, titled “Sewing a Button,” on July 3 in Manchester. This 24-hour live piece reenacts the conditions of his secret 81-day detention by Chinese authorities in 2011. During the performance, Ai Weiwei will eat, sleep, work, wash, and write inside a replica of his prison cell, recreated by architecture firm Hawkins­­­­Brown. The performance is part of his new show, “Button Up!”, which runs from July 2 to September 6 at Manchester’s Aviva Studios.

Ai Weiwei’s 2011 detention, officially attributed to alleged tax evasion, is widely seen by supporters as retaliation for his outspoken activism and artworks that critique the Chinese government. Notable past works include “Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn” (1995) and the “Study of Perspective” series (1995-2011). For “Sewing a Button,” Ai Weiwei is joined by nine actors portraying military guards and doctors, and four journalists who will interrogate him throughout the 24-hour duration. The performance will feature a soundtrack by electronic duo Space Afrika.

The companion exhibition, “Button Up!”, explores themes of globalization, colonialism, and empire through the lens of the British-Chinese textile trade. The exhibition showcases a breadth of Ai Weiwei’s practice, including works such as “Eight-Nation Alliance Flag,” made from half a million buttons, his largest LEGO work titled “History of Bombs,” the Murano glass chandelier “La Commedia Umana,” and “Circle of Animals.” The exhibition aims to confront complex global issues by examining the historical and cultural significance of everyday objects and trade routes.