Celebrated Chinese activist/contemporary artist/badass Ai WeiWei released a heave metal single and music video on his website just yesterday.
Titled ‘Dumbass’, the track comes as a response to his 81 days of imprisonment in 2011 following a crackdown on dissident bloggers, lawyers, teachers, and campaigners. Telling the Guardian that his country was one of “crazy menace and inhuman conditions” and that the video illustrates an “inch-accurate” recreation of the cell, WeiWei openly strikes out against the oppression that he, and many like him, have faced under the rule of the Chinese government.
Showing the contrast between the realities of prison and the rock star fantasies of his guards, the clip accompanies such lyrics as:
“…stand on the frontline like a dumbass, in a country that puts out like a hooker. The fields are full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere… Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life’s invincible.”
WeiWei topped Complex’s list of ‘The 25 Most Important Artists of 2012’ and despite facing insane tax debts, being unable to leave China, and being closely watched by the Chinese Government, he is releasing a 6-song album titled Divina Commedia (due for release on June 22nd) on which ‘Dumbass’ will feature. Word is his sophomore album will be a collection of more romantic tunes – quite a change from this expletive, anger-fuelled first release.
The brilliant Never Sorry documentary covering the artist’s life and social activism came out last year and is a seriously good watch if you’re keen to learn more about one of the world’s most influential and controversial artists.