Chinese artist Ai Weiwei under house arrest

[StingRoy]

Shanghai government was put into a rather difficult position. With the recently hardened political atmosphere they definitely don't want Ai Weiwei in their city. Demolishing his studio will force this hot potato back to Beijing, there he will be Beijing/Central government's problem.

So this artist Weiwei is a controversial man in China.. I mean his works? or is he being held just for the property controversy?

 

[below_freezing]

I don't know much about him, but I do know 1 thing: he lied about suffering a policeman's hit to the head. He also seems to be a hypocrite, seeing that he has 2 homes and the money to build his own studio in Shanghai's financial district, one of the most expensive places in the country. How much of an artist is he?