Ai Weiwei was born in 1957 in China. He is known for his powerful contemporary paintings that reflect the human struggle both politically and culturally. Ai Weiwei has been recognized internationally as a political activist and has been openly critical of the Chinese government.

In 2017, Ai Weiwei recreated the popular image of a drowning Syrian refugee. This has led some to view Ai Weiwei as an advocate of inhumanity, while others argue that he shamefully profits from human suffering. Although heavily criticized, Ai Weiwei continues to fascinate the world with his incredible, culturally violent works.