Chinese Activists Throw Party For Artist Under House Arrest

Ai Wei Wei was once favoured by the Communist Party, but has become one of its most famous critics.

Ai helped design the magnificent Bird’s Nest Stadium, the crown jewel of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But since landing that government contract he’s run afoul of the authorities for being vocal supporter of human rights. He was commissioned by the government in 2008 to build a studio in Shanghai, but this year authorities announced it had been built without permission and would be demolished. Ai planned a party to coincide with the demolition yesterday, to which thousands of guests were expected. But on Friday police placed him under house arrest so that the party couldn’t go ahead. Nevertheless a few hundred guests showed up and partied without incident. Ai’s house arrest expired at midnight Sunday.