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Challenging Authority and Taking the Heat

United Kingdom Architecture News - May 19, 2014 - 10:00 2961 views

‘Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case’ Follows a Scrutinized Artist

Ai Weiwei, the subject of “The Fake Case.” Mr. Ai, a Chinese artist, has been openly battling his government for years. CreditInternational Film Circuit

Part of the reason the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei— the subject of a current exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and of the Danish filmmaker Andreas Johnsen’s new documentary, “The Fake Case” — is such an intriguing figure is that his recent career feels like the latest battle in the very old war between the imagination and the state. Especially since 2008, when the aftermath of the Chengdu earthquake in Western China awakened his conscience and made him a determined critic of his government, Mr. Ai has taunted, mocked and passionately denounced the authoritarianism, corruption and incompetence that he sees around him. He has made more-or-less conventional works of art reflecting these concerns, and made deft use of social media and his own celebrity.

The essential cinematic introduction to Mr. Ai remains Alison Klayman’s 2012 documentary,“Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.” Mr. Johnsen’s film is an interesting addendum and no doubt a harbinger of more sequels to come. It takes up the story in 2011, after Mr. Ai had been detained for nearly three months and found himself under virtual house arrest. Charged with tax violations and forbidden to leave the country or speak to the press, he spends his days in the Beijing complex that serves as his home, studio and quasi-corporate headquarters.

Under constant surveillance, he goes for walks with his young son, talks with lawyers and foreign journalists, and supervises the making of new work. Some of the film reflects directly on his confrontations with the authorities, notably a series of lifelike dioramas — called “S.A.C.R.E.D.” and included in the Brooklyn show — depicting his detention.

“Fake” is the name of Mr. Ai’s studio, a translinguistic pun playing with the ideas of authenticity and artificiality that inform much contemporary art. The title of Mr. Johnsen’s film also points to the spuriousness of the government’s charges, but there is no doubt that Mr. Ai takes his situation seriously. And though his impish sense of humor is still intact, he also seems tired and melancholy. He has trouble sleeping, suffers from memory loss and worries that the harassment he has suffered is taking an irreversible toll on his health.

Throughout “Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case,” Mr. Johnsen’s camera never leaves Mr. Ai’s side, giving the film an informal intimacy not unlike the mood in some of the artist’s own videos. Critical and contextual perspectives will have to be sought elsewhere. Mr. Johnsen offers viewers the challenge and pleasure of an important artist’s company, and a chance to appreciate anew his wisdom, his wit and his bravery.

Ai Weiwei

The Fake Case

Opens on Friday in Manhattan.

Directed by Andreas Johnsen; director of photography, Mr. Johnsen; edited by Adam Nielsen; produced by Katrine A. Sahlstrom; released by International Film Circuit. At the IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas at Third Street, Greenwich Village. In English and Mandarin, with English subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 29 minutes. This film is not rated.

> via NYT

Submitted by WA Contents

Challenging Authority and Taking the Heat

United Kingdom Architecture News - May 19, 2014 - 10:00 2961 views

‘Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case’ Follows a Scrutinized Artist

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