Who was Ai Weiwei’s father Ai Qing?

Ai Qing (1910–1996) was one of China’s most renowned poets and a significant figure in the development of xinshi ("new poetry"). Born into a wealthy landowning family, he studied painting in Paris before returning to China, where he became a prominent advocate for free expression and the role of the writer as a social critic.12

His work, characterized by simple language and a free-verse style, often reflected his deep concern for the common people. After aligning with the Chinese Communist Party in the 1940s, he faced severe political persecution; in 1957, he was labeled a "rightist" for criticizing the communist regime. This led to 21 years of silence, during which he was interned in labor camps in Heilongjiang and Xinjiang. He was eventually allowed to return to Beijing in 1976 and resumed his literary career, publishing several collections before his death. He was the father of the contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei.12