Ai Weiwei releases first single from debut album
Dissident artist releases debut album laced with references to politics and own detention ordeal
Dissident artist Ai Weiwei made his first foray into the musical world yesterday with the release of a single from his debut album, a song called Dumbass that takes inspiration from his detention in 2011.
The video for the heavy metal song, which was directed by Ai with cinematography by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Doyle, depicts Ai's 81 days in secretive detention in 2011, which sparked an international outcry.
"There was one thing I thought was interesting. When I was detained, there was a paramilitary officer standing there very seriously watching me, and he asked me quietly if I could sing a song," Ai said at his home in northeastern Beijing.
"At the time I felt extremely frustrated, because I felt terrible, and I realised that in a situation like that, these guards felt just like me, they wanted to hear songs," he said.
The video features Ai having his head and signature beard shaved by his son, and appearing in lipstick and a dress.
The lyrics rail against the authorities, as befit a man who has repeatedly criticised the government for flouting the rule of law and the rights of citizens, and are also dotted with obscenities.
The album, called Divina Commedia after the poem by Italian poet Dante, is a reference to a nickname of Ai's.