Anish Kapoor cancels exhibition at National Museum of China

Yesterday, Anish Kapoor cancelled plans to exhibit new sculptures at the National Museum of China in Beijing as a form of protest against the recent detainment of artist and activist Ai Weiwei. The exhibition was to be a part of the “UK Now” festival, what British Council chief executive Martin Davidson says aims to “build supportive links between people in the UK and China”.
Kapoor has previously protested Ai’s detention, most recently during the vernissage for his sculpture Leviathan, currently on display at the Grand Palais in Paris. The piece was created for “Monumenta 2011”, an annual event issued by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. Kapoor dedicated Leviathan – a bulbous structure within which there are rooms flooded with red light – to Ai Weiwei as a gesture of solidarity and protest.
Kapoor had been very vocal in his support of Ai Weiwei. Back in May Kapoor called for the worldwide closure of museums and galleries for a day in support of Ai Weiwei, saying “In a very simple way he is recording human existence…he’s a colleague, and artist”.

 http://www.aiweiweifilm.org/en/anish-kapoor-cancels-exhibition-national-museum-china/