Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released
Shiho Fukada for The New York Times
Ai Weiwei was arrested today on unspecified charges by Chinese security police while he and his family were about to board a plane to Hong Kong, as reported by the NY Times.
In response to Weiwei’s arrest Lebbeus Woods made the following statement on his blog:
The Light Pavilion by me and Christoph a. Kumpusch is already under construction in Chengdu, China. I here state publicly that I will not accept another project in China until Ai Weiwei is released unharmed from detention or imprisonment.
LW
An internationally renowned artist, Weiwei also was involved with the design for the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing among other architecture projects. He has therefore become well connected within the architecture community and the question is will other architects make a similar decision to Lebbeus Woods, backing Weiwei and pulling out of future project opportunities in China.
Be careful about the Chinese GFW!
I just can’t believe it! I join the LW statement no design in China until Ai Weiwei is free unharmed
It will be interesting to see which architects pull-out and which don’t…
imagine Gehry refusing to work at all untill, weiwei is released……
i believe in this case scenario wei wei would probably be left to die in prison .
lol.—— food for thought
Can you ask your friend Steven Holl to quit as well? Close down his office in Beijing?
How is he sure that the imprisonment is injust? I mean the government is oppresive that’s a fact but it doesn’t mean that ALL arrests are political. Or maybe he just knows more than is publically released…
gl weiwei
as though a protesting architect will make any difference…
I seriously think that he is just trying to gain attention by using Ai Weiwei’s arresting thing. How close is him with Ai Weiwei, and how much does he know abt Ai Weiwei?
China is a charming country.
we were advised at university to not even consider China on our year out in practice…
how come everybody think this is an unfair arrest? Maybe Weiwei killed his wife or whatever. One should wait a bit before getting implied here…
Considering he was about to board a plane with his family, I don’t think he did that.
He has been placed under house arrest before for going against the government, this one is most likely due to dissent as well.
The REAL measure of their intentions would be to stop work on current projects and risk getting fired / losing revenue. His protests are meaningless if there is not a real risk on his part.
I wish the starchitects would boycott Chinese projects instead/as well… If Foster for instance was to leave, there would be a great deal more publicity than a simple blog post. How many projects is Lebbeus Woods expecting in China in the future?
I hate a foreign guy who purposes to gain attention by using Ai Weiwei’s arresting.
it is so funny. I think Lebbeus got confusion about the relationship between architects and clients. It seems he pays the client to design the building not the client pays him.
Ummmm……. has Lebbeus Woods ever worked anywhere?
I think the worst part is someone as famous as Ai Weiwei got arrested for NO REASONS, then who knows what’s gonna happen to average people in China?
That’s point!
is Ai Wei wei well-known to you guys?
I guess I don’t know the truth,it’s all from media…
i suggest lw and his protege also hold their breath and count to 1,000 in protest – it will be more effective
Those who are questioning why Ai weiwei was arrested need to get their head out of the sand. There has been a documented crackdown on Chinese liberals and dissidents in the news.
I strongly disagree with those who contend that this is an empty gesture. Lebbeus’ stature within the architecture community will, in fact, force other architects (particularly Lebbeus’ friends like Holl) to at least consider the implications their continued work in China.
It’s time for the architects who consider themselves to be leading social liberals to put their money where their mouth is…
wow, what a threat!
lmao
The Chinese government needs learn that every single person has his/her human rights. If it continues to suppress its people we might witness how the calls to revolt get stronger and stronger. Libya, Egypt or Tunisia are perfect examples.
Looking at the posts here, it is pretty clear who is Chinese and who is not. “China is a charming country” hahaha.
i really strongly suggest that ARCHDAILY should not publish any new work coming from china anymore! enough is enough! i strongly hope that other influence artist are not looking anymore just for the money they could earn in this country. they just should stop their work in this country.
Do you guys seriously think this kind of protest would count for anything? The reason every architect wants a piece of China is that that’s where the projects are, for capitalism, that’s where the big bucks is. Chinese government won’t give a damn if archdaily doesn’t blog any Chinese projects or Steven Holl closes his Beijing office, but in this kind of economy, I doubt any architects would give up Chinese market…
@walala : of course we (i) don’t think so. it’s about showing sympathy. it’s about showing in somehow respect. and of course 99,5% will not seeing such a shame. i also have to respect this. however: at least a statement might be not a bad idea!
long live political activism, the people’s voice, the people’s opinion, and long live ai weiwei.
Actually,it’s so normal thing in the country i’m living
speaking some polities affair might be arrested by no reason…
Who says China even wants Lebbeus Woods?!!!
I find Wood’s gesture to be disingenuous. Ai Weiwei is not the first artist to be arrested in China. China’s human rights record and their practices towards dissidents was well known before this week, and yet he didn’t seem to have any moral problems with that.
Don’t mix politics with design. It’s unwise to be extreme in professional world. Besides, Ai is far more than what you think. Western architects, don’t be taken advantage by him.
Spoken like a true party member…
unfortunatly i don’t think Lebbeus Woods refusal to work is going to effect Ai Weiweis outcome… only thing it will be effecting is wood’s pocket
MLGB to Lebbeus Woods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You dare?all rolled out of China！
time for archdaily to write more about this case.
And yes: it’s also for such a website which might be small a statement NOT TO POST ANY CHINESE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW. OR: by still doing so to ADD A NOTICE ABOUT WEI’S DETENTION.
if people saying – hey this makes no sense, then NOTHING makes sense in our world.
and it really doesn’t matter if LW designed something in the past in china or not. it’s just a statement which is important to get.
Don’t care much for Woods’ action, but I don’t think Ai Weiwei is a dissident. After all, he was happily traveling in and out of China for the past 20 years. He was involved in the Beijing Olympic Stadium. And he was the curator of one of the most publicized economic frauds in China – Ordos 100. As far as we know, the investor of that project has cashed in ‘big’ and disappeared – forever…I rather think he is a wannabe dissident, who is clever enough, to make use of the prejudices, fears and expectations from all sides, to create a platform for himself. In that sense, he is not much different from any government official or developer, I have ever met in China.
4:13 AM Apr 4th
米国の建築家Lebbeus Woods（レベウス・ウッズ）が艾未未（アイ・ウェイウェイ）と家族が中国政府に拘束されたことに反対し解放されるまで中国での仕事を拒絶。中国では何が。→http://bit.ly/dOdyKN LW's blog→http://bit.ly/g5phc9
4:13 AM Apr 4th
RT @archyn0130: 米国の建築家Lebbeus Woods（レベウス・ウッズ）が艾未未（アイ・ウェイウェイ）と家族が中国政府に拘束されたことに反対し解放されるまで中国での仕事を拒絶。中国では何が。→http://bit.ly/dOdyKN LW's blog→ …
4:21 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released: Shiho Fukada for The New York TimesAi Weiwei… http://bit.ly/h2MOLD
4:36 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released: Shiho Fukada for The New… http://goo.gl/fb/qKM0w
4:39 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
4:39 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
4:41 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released via ArchDaily – Shiho Fukada for The New … http://tinyurl.com/4yp6zby
4:42 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released: Shiho Fukada for The New York TimesAi Weiwei… http://bit.ly/gcaCjl
4:42 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released: Ai Weiwei was arrested today on unspecified … http://bit.ly/h2MOLD
4:45 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
4:46 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
4:46 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
4:49 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in #China until Ai Weiwei is Released | via @ArchDaily http://t.co/p97E1Yk #humanrights #architecture
4:58 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
5:03 AM Apr 4th
ArD Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released: Shiho Fukada for The… http://goo.gl/fb/RLI8M
5:06 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released …: Ai Weiwei was arrested today on unspecif… http://bit.ly/eeBWG6
5:06 AM Apr 4th
Reading: "Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released | ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/5tl3uk )
5:09 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
5:13 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
5:38 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
5:44 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released | ArchDaily http://t.co/B7n4xR7
5:49 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
5:57 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released: Shiho Fukada for The New York TimesAi Weiwei… http://bit.ly/gcaCjl
6:01 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
6:12 AM Apr 4th
Reading: "Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released | ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/5tl3uk )
6:17 AM Apr 4th
Ai Weiwei arrêté hier http://ow.ly/4snPE & http://ow.ly/4snPL
6:54 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released …: Ai Weiwei was arrest… http://bit.ly/hlyyWb http://www.cubestudio.info
8:38 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released. And the NL architects……? http://bit.ly/gs1EO7
8:38 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released. And the NL architects……? http://bit.ly/gs1EO7
8:43 AM Apr 4th
RT @aherder: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released. And the NL architects……? http://bit.ly/gs1EO7
9:03 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released: Shiho Fukada for The New York TimesAi … http://tinyurl.com/3hogvrc
9:34 AM Apr 4th
RT @aherder: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released. And the NL architects……? http://bit.ly/gs1EO7
9:42 AM Apr 4th
Ai Weiweiの記事がArchidailyに出ています。
http://www.archdaily.com/124751/lebbeus-woods-refuses-to-work-in-china-until-ai-weiwei-is-released/
9:50 AM Apr 4th
レベウス・ウッズ氏、アイ・ウェイ・ウェイ氏の拘束に伴い、ブログにて声明を発表。開放されるまで中国での仕事をいっさい拒否すると。http://bit.ly/f2km2z
9:54 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
9:54 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
10:52 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods refuses to work in China until Ai Weiwei is released http://t.co/lKIQmlf /via @archdaily #architecture #art #censorship
11:19 AM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in #China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://bit.ly/gs1EO7 #architecture #Freedom
11:48 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
11:50 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
11:54 AM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
12:02 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released | ArchDaily http://t.co/VA8Cn4g via @archdaily
12:06 PM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
12:25 PM Apr 4th
RT @iwamotts: レベウス・ウッズ氏、アイ・ウェイ・ウェイ氏の拘束に伴い、ブログにて声明を発表。開放されるまで中国での仕事をいっさい拒否すると。http://bit.ly/f2km2z
12:59 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released … http://bit.ly/fINSgN
1:55 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://pulsene.ws/1bDwg
2:04 PM Apr 4th
Sobre Ai Weiwei http://www.archdaily.com/124751/lebbeus-woods-refuses-to-work-in-china-until-ai-weiwei-is-released/
2:58 PM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
3:06 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released | ArchDaily http://t.co/uT6YFWW via @archdaily
3:07 PM Apr 4th
Ai Wei Wei http://www.archdaily.com/124751/lebbeus-woods-refuses-to-work-in-china-until-ai-weiwei-is-released/
3:15 PM Apr 4th
El diseñador Ai Weiwei fue arrestadi ayer por la policia China, Lebbeus Woods no trabajara en China hasta que Ai… http://fb.me/Yh4XOEkf
3:32 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released … http://bit.ly/f2km2z
4:07 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods se niega a trabajar en China hasta que Ai Weiwei sea liberado: http://tinyurl.com/3bp8bmz
4:08 PM Apr 4th
RT @LaTempestad_: Lebbeus Woods se niega a trabajar en China hasta que Ai Weiwei sea liberado: http://tinyurl.com/3bp8bmz
4:19 PM Apr 4th
RT @LaTempestad_: Lebbeus Woods se niega a trabajar en China hasta que Ai Weiwei sea liberado: http://tinyurl.com/3bp8bmz
5:24 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released | ArchDaily http://t.co/LGcSfU7 via @archdaily
5:34 PM Apr 4th
BAD CHINA. Release Ai Wei Wei. http://www.archdaily.com/124751/lebbeus-woods-refuses-to-work-in-china-until-ai-weiwei-is-released/
5:48 PM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
5:56 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://bit.ly/gwP6mG #art #architecture #china *nice move lebbeus!
6:10 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released. Will others consider? http://t.co/PLrNxBM
6:28 PM Apr 4th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://pulsene.ws/1bDwg
6:34 PM Apr 4th
RT @meghabird: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released. Will others consider? http://t.co/PLrNxBM
8:51 PM Apr 4th
RT @arturortiz: Sobre Ai Weiwei http://www.archdaily.com/124751/lebbeus-woods-refuses-to-work-in-china-until-ai-weiwei-is-released/
9:20 PM Apr 4th
RT @jonesbeall: BAD CHINA. Release Ai Wei Wei. http://www.archdaily.com/124751/lebbeus-woods-refuses-to-work-in-china-until-ai-weiwei- …
11:26 PM Apr 4th
RT @ArchDaily: Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://archdai.ly/f1U48D #architecture
4:08 AM Apr 5th
さすがだウッズ！ RT @iwamotts: レベウス・ウッズ氏、アイ・ウェイ・ウェイ氏の拘束に伴い、ブログにて声明を発表。開放されるまで中国での仕事をいっさい拒否すると。http://bit.ly/f2km2z
6:19 PM Apr 5th
Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://ff.im/-Auzyi
2:32 AM Apr 6th
One word: Stupid! -Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released | ArchDaily http://t.co/dcLyPJg via @archdaily
2:19 PM Apr 10th
Lebbeus Woods support for Ai Weiwei :- http://alturl.com/gcxbh
3:33 PM Apr 10th
RT @theMobileStudio: Lebbeus Woods support for Ai Weiwei :- http://alturl.com/gcxbh
2:53 PM Apr 24th
レベウス・ウッズの実施の計画があることにびっくりなんだけど。RT @marcnmark Lebbeus Woods Refuses to Work in China until Ai Weiwei is Released http://bit.ly/f3NqhD