Computer Solutions

Ai Weiwei in the NYT. NB a similar interview by Shanghai Eye should come out at the Art Miami fair.
Lately, there are indeed signs that the government is reaching its limit. His blogs on Chinese Web sites, about issues political and otherwise, have been shut down. Someone has installed two video cameras outside his studio. The police are said to be scrutinizing his finances, an ominous development in a state where other political critics have been prosecuted for what appear to be concocted fiscal misdeeds.

“He has never done anything illegal,” said his lawyer and friend, Liu Xiaoyuan. “But if he continues on his current path, getting involved in some very high-profile cases, I will get worried. Some government departments are already very annoyed about him.”

Mr. Ai says he is ready for whatever comes. “I came to art because I wanted to escape the other regulations of the society. The whole society is so political,” he said. “But the irony is that my art becomes more and more political.”

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Orcas killing sharks

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7 year old art wunderkinder

Marvelous hyperbole:

“I believe the last child artist in this bracket was Picasso. And Kieron is getting better and better and better, the pace at which he learns is quite amazing. He has mastered certain techniques which some artists would take years to perfect.”
The key to Kieron’s success was his skill with light and dark, colour and tone, which allowed him to put so much life into the paintings, said Mr Hill, and demonstrated a “very mature hand”.
Those skills had brought some customers to tears, added Mr Hill.

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FT looks at Art Miami, now post Dubai
“Every year, new galleries come in after previously applying. This year, there are galleries that are long-timers at Art Basel [the Swiss sister fair held in June], including Artiaco of Naples and Silverstein Gallery of New York. Many of the ‘new’ galleries are simply rejoining the fair after a year or two away,” says Spiegler, who confirmed that stand fees are up in the art galleries section. “People still have faith in ABMB, and there is definitely a market for high-quality art. For example, the number of museum groups set to visit this year is on a par, if not higher, than in 2008, while serious collectors are back in force.”
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China Daily on latest UCCA show in Beijing
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Some local news- a cargo plane crashed at Pudong airport

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ENDS