1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei

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1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei: 1. Growing up in Little Siberia.

1. Growing up in Little Siberia.

BBC Radio 4 - 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei, 1. Growing up in Little Siberia.

Ai Weiwei's memoir tells of a childhood spent in exile on the edge of a remote desert.

Superstar artist, and human rights activist, Ai Weiwei, begins his memoir by recounting his early years with his exiled father in a remote region of China. Benedict Wong reads.

The artist and social activist tells of his harsh childhood spent in a remote part of China known as 'Little Siberia', the place where his exiled father was sent during China's Cultural Revolution. Benedict Wong reads.

In this memoir by one of the art world’s superstars, Ai Weiwei charts his journey as an artist and a human rights activist. It also tells the story of Ai Weiwei's father, Ai Qing arguably China’s most celebrated poet. During the Cultural Revolution Ai Qing was banished, along with his sons Ai Weiwei and Gao Jian, to a remote region of China. He was subjected to degrading work, while Ai Weiwei endured a harsh childhood. Later, aged 19 Ai Weiwei left for America where he studied art. Later, his career  took off with projects like his installation of 100 million ceramic sunflower seeds at Tate Modern. Ai Weiwei’s art has always been informed by his social activism. His criticism of China, and especially its human rights record, has brought him to the attention of the authorities, culminating in his detention in 2011. While imprisoned he reflected on his father's life, and thoughts of his own son, Ai Lao occupied him. Fathers and sons, China’s totalitarianism, the role of art, freedom of expression, and the need to protect it at all cost, are at the heart of this inspiring life story.

Benedict Wong reads, he played Ai Weiwei in Howard Brenton's play, The Arrest of Ai Weiwei in 2013.  He is well known for his role as Wong in Dr Strange, and  Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He plays Kublai Khan in the acclaimed Netflix series Marco Polo.

Photo: Ai Weiwei with Ai Qing at Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China, November 1959
Written by Ai Weiwei
Translated by Allan H. Barr
Abridged by Penny Leicester
Produced by Elizabeth Allard

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The world-famous Chinese artist and activist's memoir of his extraordinary life.

Book of the Week. The world-famous artist and activist's memoir tells an epic story of China through his own extraordinary life and the legacy of his father. Read by Benedict Wong.

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1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei

1. Growing up in Little Siberia.

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