Artist-provocateur_NN1 Ai_NN1 Weiwei_NP0 became_VVD world-famous_AJ0 mocking_AJ0 Chinese_AJ0 icons_NN2 –_PUN dynastic_AJ0 artifacts_NN2 ,_PUN Tiananmen_NP0 Square_NP0 ,_PUN Beijing_NP0 's_POS Olympics_NN2 –_PUN and_CJC has_VHZ spent_VVN time_NN1 in_PRP detention_NN1 for_PRP his_DPS artistic_AJ0 expressions_NN2 ._SENT One_CRD symbol_NN1 of_PRF Chinese_AJ0 power_NN1 he_PNP has_VHZ n't_XX0 pilloried_VVN is_VBZ Xi_NN1 Jinping_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 country_NN1 's_POS pre-eminent_AJ0 leader_NN1 ._SENT 
Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 ,_PUN who_PNQ is_VBZ publishing_VVG a_AT0 memoir_NN1 on_PRP Tuesday_NP0 ,_PUN says_VVZ his_DPS mission_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO0 call_VVI out_AVP governments_NN2 and_CJC institutions_NN2 when_CJS freedoms_NN2 are_VBB threatened_VVN ._SENT 
"_PUQ China_NP0 is_VBZ a_AT0 much_AV0 bigger_AJC matter_NN1 than_CJS an_AT0 individual_NN1 like_PRP Xi_NN1 Jinping_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ he_PNP says_VVZ ._SENT In_PRP Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 's_POS view_NN1 ,_PUN attributing_VVG trends_NN2 in_PRP China_NP0 to_PRP the_AT0 president_NN1 alone_AV0 ignores_VVZ "_PUQ much_AV0 deeper_AJC and_CJC more_AV0 profound_AJ0 reasons_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ like_PRP entrenched_AJ0 nationalism_NN1 ._SENT 
Why_AVQ pay_VVI attention_NN1 to_PRP Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 ?_SENT "_PUQ Art-world_AJ0 star_NN1 "_PUQ goes_VVZ only_AV0 so_AV0 far_AV0 to_TO0 characterize_VVI the_AT0 global_AJ0 influence_NN1 of_PRF China_NP0 's_POS most_AV0 outspoken_AJ0 showman_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 64-year-old_NN1 who_PNQ revels_VVZ in_PRP making_VVG authorities_NN2 squirm_VVI by_PRP sticking_VVG his_DPS cannonball-shaped_AJ0 head_NN1 where_CJS he_PNP 's_VBZ not_XX0 invited_VVN ._SENT In_PRP between_PRP sold-out_AJ0 museum_NN1 exhibits_NN2 from_PRP Lisbon_NP0 to_PRP Seoul_NP0 that_CJT burst_VVD with_PRP wry_AJ0 commentary_NN1 on_PRP human_AJ0 rights_NN2 ,_PUN like_PRP giant_AJ0 representations_NN2 of_PRF refugee_NN1 boats_NN2 ,_PUN he_PNP sprays_VVZ a_AT0 dizzying_AJ0 volume_NN1 of_PRF political_AJ0 and_CJC artistic_AJ0 messages_NN2 to_PRP his_DPS more_DT0 than_CJS 600_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD followers_NN2 on_PRP Instagram_NN1 and_CJC 360_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD on_PRP Twitter_NN1 ._SENT 
"_PUQ He_PNP has_VHZ an_AT0 incredible_AJ0 empathy_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP think_VVB that_CJT segues_NN2 very_AV0 well_AV0 with_PRP the_AT0 consciousness_NN1 we_PNP 're_VBB experiencing_VVG ,_PUN "_PUQ says_VVZ New_NP0 York_NP0 gallerist_NN1 Mary_NP0 Boone_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ for_PRP years_NN2 represented_VVN Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ He_PNP 's_VBZ more_AV0 than_CJS the_AT0 art_NN1 world_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP 's_VBZ a_AT0 bigger_AJC voice_NN1 than_CJS that_DT0 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP adds_VVZ ._SENT 
Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 attributes_VVZ his_DPS fame_NN1 to_PRP a_AT0 universal_AJ0 desire_NN1 to_TO0 challenge_VVI authority_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP speak_VVB out_AVP about_PRP what_DTQ 's_VBZ in_PRP my_DPS mind_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP speak_VVB out_AVP very_AV0 loudly_AV0 ,_PUN "_PUQ he_PNP says_VVZ ._SENT 
Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 's_POS memoir_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ 1000_CRD Years_NN2 of_PRF Joys_NN2 and_CJC Sorrows_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ which_DTQ is_VBZ being_VBG translated_VVN into_PRP 18_CRD languages_NN2 and_CJC published_VVD in_AVP over_PRP 20_CRD countries_NN2 ,_PUN though_CJS not_XX0 China_NP0 ,_PUN traces_VVZ around_PRP a_AT0 century_NN1 of_PRF ups_NN2 and_CJC downs_NN2 –_PUN and_CJC mostly_AV0 downs_NN2 –_PUN in_PRP his_DPS family_NN1 's_POS relationship_NN1 with_PRP Chinese_AJ0 authorities_NN2 ._SENT 
China_NP0 's_POS authoritarianism_NN1 ,_PUN he_PNP argues_VVZ ,_PUN is_VBZ at_PRP odds_NN2 with_PRP freedom_NN1 by_PRP rejecting_VVG honest_AJ0 accounts_NN2 of_PRF history_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 policies_NN2 necessary_AJ0 to_TO0 develop_VVI a_AT0 healthy_AJ0 society_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Although_CJS China_NP0 grows_VVZ more_AV0 powerful_AJ0 ,_PUN its_DPS moral_AJ0 decay_NN1 simply_AV0 spreads_VVZ anxiety_NN1 and_CJC uncertainty_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 world_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ he_PNP writes_VVZ ._SENT 
Speaking_VVG by_PRP telephone_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 Portuguese_AJ0 town_NN1 of_PRF Montemor-o-Novo_NP0 where_AVQ he_PNP rode_VVD out_AVP much_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 pandemic_AJ0 finishing_VVG the_AT0 book_NN1 ,_PUN editing_VVG documentary_NN1 films_NN2 and_CJC remotely_AV0 managing_VVG his_DPS studio_NN1 in_PRP China_NP0 ,_PUN Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 said_VVD the_AT0 book_NN1 is_VBZ for_PRP his_DPS 12-year-old_AJ0 son_NN1 ,_PUN Ai_NN1 Lao_NP0 ._SENT The_AT0 boy_NN1 deserves_VVZ an_AT0 explanation_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 tumult_NN1 in_PRP his_DPS short_AJ0 life_NN1 ,_PUN Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 says_VVZ ._SENT 
The_AT0 artist_NN1 fled_VVD China_NP0 for_PRP Europe_NP0 in_PRP 2015_CRD after_PRP repeated_AJ0 run-ins_NN2 with_PRP authorities_NN2 ,_PUN including_PRP an_AT0 81-day_AJ0 stint_NN1 in_PRP detention_NN1 followed_VVN by_PRP four_CRD years_NN2 of_PRF house_NN1 arrest_NN1 ._SENT Though_CJS he_PNP remains_VVZ a_AT0 Chinese_AJ0 citizen_NN1 and_CJC worries_NN2 about_PRP his_DPS aging_AJ0 mother_NN1 in_PRP Beijing_NP0 ,_PUN Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 said_VVD returning_VVG home_AV0 now_AV0 would_VM0 be_VBI risky_AJ0 ._SENT If_CJS he_PNP goes_VVZ to_PRP China_NP0 ,_PUN he_PNP says_VVZ ,_PUN "_PUQ I_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 think_VVI I_PNP can_VM0 come_VVI out_AVP ._SENT "_PUQ 
Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 may_VM0 be_VBI China_NP0 's_POS most_AV0 famous_AJ0 living_NN1 artist_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC all_DT0 traces_NN2 of_PRF his_DPS work_NN1 vanished_VVN from_PRP public_AJ0 view_NN1 there_AV0 years_NN2 ago_AV0 ._SENT Chinese_AJ0 authorities_NN2 have_VHB said_VVN his_DPS legal_AJ0 problems_NN2 stemmed_VVD from_PRP his_DPS business_NN1 practices_NN2 ,_PUN not_XX0 his_DPS activism_NN1 or_CJC art_NN1 ._SENT 
"_PUQ Ai_NN1 Weiwei_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 so-called_AJ0 '_PUQ artist_NN1 '_PUQ you_PNP mentioned_VVD ,_PUN is_VBZ under_PRP investigation_NN1 for_PRP suspected_AJ0 economic_AJ0 crimes_NN2 ,_PUN including_PRP making_VVG false_AJ0 accounts_NN2 and_CJC deliberately_AV0 destroying_VVG accounting_NN1 vouchers_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ the_AT0 spokesperson_NN1 office_NN1 of_PRF China_NP0 's_POS Ministry_NN1 of_PRF Foreign_AJ0 Affairs_NN2 said_VVD in_PRP response_NN1 to_PRP questions_NN2 about_PRP the_AT0 book_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ What_DTQ I_PNP want_VVB to_TO0 emphasize_VVI is_VBZ that_CJT gaining_VVG attention_NN1 by_PRP criticizing_VVG the_AT0 Chinese_AJ0 government_NN1 and_CJC concocting_VVG false_AJ0 lies_NN2 is_VBZ despicable_AJ0 ._SENT "_PUQ In_PRP his_DPS book_NN1 ,_PUN Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 calls_VVZ the_AT0 charges_NN2 "_PUQ cooked_VVN up_AVP ._SENT "_PUQ 
Prison_NN1 runs_VVZ through_PRP Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 's_POS memoir_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ opens_VVZ with_PRP a_AT0 poem_NN1 his_DPS father_NN1 wrote_VVD in_PRP 1932_CRD during_PRP a_AT0 six-year_AJ0 sentence_NN1 for_PRP "_PUQ leftist_NN1 "_PUQ activities_NN2 alleged_VVD to_TO0 have_VHI threatened_VVN the_AT0 republic_NN1 ,_PUN then_AV0 run_VVN by_PRP Chiang_NP0 Kai-shek_NP0 's_POS Nationalists_NN2 ._SENT When_CJS Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 was_VBD nearly_AV0 10_CRD and_CJC the_AT0 Communists_NN2 were_VBD in_PRP charge_NN1 ,_PUN he_PNP tagged_VVD along_AVP when_CJS his_DPS father_NN1 was_VBD banished_VVN to_PRP a_AT0 remote_AJ0 province_NN1 for_PRP producing_VVG "_PUQ rightist_NN1 "_PUQ poetry_NN1 and_CJC assigned_VVN to_TO0 scrub_VVI latrines_NN2 ,_PUN the_AT0 two_CRD of_PRF them_PNP living_VVG five_CRD years_NN2 in_PRP a_AT0 lice-infested_AJ0 hovel_NN1 ._SENT 
Fast_AV0 forward_AV0 to_PRP 2011_CRD ,_PUN when_AVQ Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 himself_PNX disappeared_VVD into_PRP a_AT0 secretive_AJ0 Chinese_AJ0 detention_NN1 system_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP followed_VVD a_AT0 string_NN1 of_PRF encounters_NN2 with_PRP law_NN1 enforcement_NN1 and_CJC provocations_NN2 by_PRP Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 ,_PUN such_DT0 as_PRP uploading_VVG to_PRP the_AT0 internet_NN1 an_AT0 audio_AJ0 recording_NN1 of_PRF police_NN2 storming_VVG into_PRP his_DPS hotel_NN1 room_NN1 and_CJC a_AT0 photo_NN1 of_PRF himself_PNX in_PRP police_NN2 custody_NN1 wearing_VVG a_AT0 torn_AJ0 shirt_NN1 ,_PUN actions_NN2 he_PNP described_VVD in_PRP the_AT0 interview_NN1 as_PRP his_DPS "_PUQ ruthlessly_AV0 making_VVG trouble_NN1 "_PUQ –_PUN and_CJC as_CJS "_PUQ so_AV0 much_DT0 fun_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
His_DPS activism_NN1 marked_VVD an_AT0 escalation_NN1 of_PRF early_AJ0 art_NN1 pranks_NN2 ,_PUN like_PRP smashing_VVG a_AT0 Han_NP0 dynasty_NN1 urn_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP criticized_VVD the_AT0 2008_CRD Olympics_NN2 and_CJC memorialized_VVD the_AT0 earthquake_NN1 deaths_NN2 the_AT0 same_DT0 year_NN1 of_PRF schoolchildren_NN2 in_PRP a_AT0 display_NN1 of_PRF 9_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD backpacks_NN2 ,_PUN all_DT0 the_AT0 while_NN1 pushing_VVG boundaries_NN2 on_PRP China_NP0 's_POS internet_NN1 ._SENT 
Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 has_VHZ depicted_VVN his_DPS Kafkaesque_AJ0 detention_NN1 in_PRP artwork_NN1 and_CJC expands_VVZ on_PRP it_PNP in_PRP the_AT0 book_NN1 :_PUN Two_CRD guards_NN2 moved_VVN in_PRP sync_NN1 with_PRP Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 at_PRP all_DT0 times_NN2 inside_PRP the_AT0 tiny_AJ0 lockup_NN1 ,_PUN including_PRP pacing_VVG alongside_PRP him_PNP as_CJS he_PNP went_VVD back_AVP and_CJC forth_AV0 on_PRP the_AT0 six_CRD floor_NN1 tiles_NN2 available_AJ0 for_PRP exercise_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ What_DTQ one_PNI would_VM0 take_VVI for_CJS granted_VVN outside_PRP had_VHD here_AV0 become_VVN absurd_AJ0 ,_PUN "_PUQ he_PNP writes_VVZ ._SENT 
His_DPS disappearance_NN1 only_AV0 boosted_VVN Mr._NP0 Ai_NN1 's_POS global_AJ0 fame_NN1 ._SENT For_PRP a_AT0 time_NN1 ,_PUN he_PNP might_VM0 have_VHI been_VBN the_AT0 world_NN1 's_VBZ most_AV0 prominent_AJ0 political_AJ0 prisoner_NN1 ._SENT 
