Ai Weiwei met the Governor of Berlin and the press today. The artist arrived several days ago, traveling via Munich from China. Weiwei recently got his passport back from Chinese authorities, allowing him to leave China for the first time in years. His visit in Berlin is not explicitly political: his son lives here, he has a large studio space here, and has been offered a professorship at the art university here. But today, he met the Governor at City Hall and briefly said hi to the press.
Artist Ai Weiwei in Berlin on August 13th, 2015.
Ai Weiwei took a picture of us press on his iphone and checked it (or posted it?) just after meeting the governor.
The image Ai Weiwei posted on Instagram. I’m the bald guy poking out over the crowd. Original here. Photo Credit: Ai Weiwei.
Artist Ai Weiwei in Berlin on August 13th, 2015.
The Governor of Berlin Michael Mueller gave Weiwei a football jersey from the local team (ok, the better of the two).
Artist Ai Weiwei in Berlin on August 13th, 2015.