This is a very rare opportunity to acquire: 'Citizens' Investigation' by world renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. 'Citizens' Investigation' comes from the artists sought after series of paper-cuts with this image being one of the most scarce. This papercut measures: 23.6 x 23.6 in. (59.94 x 59.94 cm.) and comes hand signed from the edition of 250. The sheet is is mint condition.The present work exhibits people amid the rubble of the May 12, 2008 earthquake that struck ChinaÂ’s Sichuan Province. Recorded at 7.9, a woman holding up a picture of her missing child, helpers and investigators trying to find victims and survivors are just some of the horrific images that are cut into the red paper. Ai organized a team of volunteers to investigate and compile a list of deceased children, after finding out that the Chinese government withheld information on the identities of the victims. The project became known as the Citizens Investigation. It was discovered that many schools had violated safety standard which contributed to the catastrophic death toll. The image in the center is based on a photograph that Ai took of his colleagues and himself after being assaulted the night before we was to testify as a witness for Tan Zuoren, an activist and writer also investigating corruption issues around the earthquake in 2009. Below the central image are CAT scans of the brain hemorrhage Ai suffered from the assault.

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