Ai Weiwei - Activist and Artist (b. Aug. 28, 1957)

After Ai Weiwei’s father's poetry in the late 50’s distressed the Chinese government, he and his family were sent to a labor camp when Ai was one - where they would spend the next 16 years surviving brutal conditions. Only after Mao's death in 1976, would his family returned to Beijing where he helped form his first arts collective.

Between 1981-1993, Ai studied English and Art in the US. When he returned to China, he was an outspoken critic of the corrupt government. His work often incorporates themes of global refugee crisis, government surveillance, political prisoners and freedom of speech. His ideas and actions have led him to be arrested and harshly detained multiple times by the Chinese authorities.

When asked if he is ever scared for his life (for his actions), he responded, he is more scared of doing nothing.

See an elegant interview he gives here with Trevor Noah.

14,000 salvaged Refugee life vests wrap the columns of Berlin’s Konzerthaus (Concert House)

Industrial Site Converted to Urban Wetland by eLandscript (China)

This impressive landscape firm collaborated with various practices to connect multiple banks created by the convergence of these four Shenzhen rivers with a series of paths and elevated promenades.

The Rainbow Bridge, which crosses two of the rivers, was completed by German practice Schlaich Bergermann Partner and the Flora Trellis Cafe was designed by LAAB Architects, and features glass curtain walls sheltered by a white rhombus-coffered canopy.

More here about this project.

VOTE!

Today is the last day to drop-off your ballots in Colorado. The League of Women Voters CO is an excellent source for pro/con info. around issues that impact your state. If you live outside of CO and are a US citizen, look up the LWV for the state in which you live.