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Articles

Ai Weiwei Behind The Scenes

A series of blogs telling the story of how our Ai Weiwei exhibition – the latest in our sequence of major single artist shows – is being put together across 10 months, by teams across three continents.

Ai Weiwei receives his passport, 22 July 2015

RA Exhibitions

5 years ago

Royal Academy welcomes Ai Weiwei visa decision

The artist has now been granted a full six-month UK visa by the Home Office.

Ai Weiwei and his visa

RA Exhibitions

5 years ago

Ai Weiwei is refused a UK business visa

RA Artistic Director Tim Marlow comments on the news – which could affect the artist’s attendance at his upcoming exhibition.

Portrait of Ai Weiwei

RA Exhibitions

> 5 years ago

Ai Weiwei will travel to the UK for RA exhibition

After four years without travel, the artist has had his passport returned and will attend his landmark exhibition in our galleries.
Part of the installation work 'Tree' in Ai Weiwei's Beijing studio

RA Exhibitions

> 5 years ago

Introducing Ai Weiwei’s ‘Tree’

Curator Adrian Locke on the monumental installation that will be coming to the RA’s courtyard alongside our Ai Weiwei exhibition.
Portrait of Ai Weiwei

RA Exhibitions

> 5 years ago

Ai Weiwei at the RA: Sharing our vision for the show

Our collaboration with Ai Weiwei has extended to producing the exhibition’s poster image, catalogue and multimedia guide, explains curator Adrian Locke.
Red Brick Art Galleries and Studios in Beijing

RA Exhibitions

> 5 years ago

In the neighbourhood: Ai Weiwei’s ‘village’ in Beijing

A vibrant arts quarter has grown up around Ai Weiwei’s home and studio in Beijing. Our curator Adrian Locke explores the area, and finds himself on a journey into the city’s past.
Ai Weiwei's bicycle, positioned outside the entrance to his studio complex

Inside the Academy

> 5 years ago

Cats and conversations: laying out the exhibition with Ai Weiwei

At a meeting in his Beijing studio, Ai Weiwei and curator Adrian Locke plan the gallery layout for the artist’s major RA show this year.
Beijing on a sunny autumn day

Inside the Academy

< 6 years ago

In the studio: a glimpse into Ai Weiwei’s world

Curator Adrian Locke gets to know artist Ai Weiwei and his studio team on a sunny day in Beijing.
Ai Weiwei and Tim Marlow, the RA's Director of Artistic Programming, look at floor plans of the RA's Main Galleries while 'meeting cat' looks on

RA Exhibitions

< 6 years ago

From Mayfair to Beijing: planning an exhibition with Ai Weiwei

How to put a major exhibition together when the artist in question can’t leave his home country? Ai Weiwei has a virtual tour of our galleries before curator Adrian Locke visits him (and his cats) in Beijing.