Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has accused the UK government of denying him a full six-month business visa on the grounds that he failed to declare a criminal conviction – despite the fact that he disputes ever being charged with or convicted of a crime. A statement posted through his Instagram account said the British government had instead issued him a 20-day entry visa. “Exceptionally, it has been decided to grant you entry clearance outside the Immigration Rules for your stated dates of travel”.
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He was subsequently ordered to pay a $2.4m fine for allegedly unpaid taxes although supporters said the penalty was a politically motivated punishment for the artist’s fierce criticism of the Communist party.
Ai Weiwei’s “Straight” is made with the remnants of buildings damaged in an quake, weighing in at 150-tonnes Ai claims these actions amounted to a denial of his rights as an ordinary citizen.
The visa he was granted would ensure that Ai can attend a show of his work at London’s Royal Academy of Arts in September, when his absence would have generated negative headlines.
A letter from the British embassy in Beijing, which Ai published on his Instagram feed, explains, “It is a matter of public record that you have previously received a criminal conviction in China, and you have not declared this”. However, he has never been personally indicted or convicted of a criminal offense. Having only last week been returned his passport, and with it his freedom to travel, the artist has already come up against a brick wall in exercising that right.
In a letter, the department states that “It is a matter of public record that you have previously received a criminal conviction in China”, and in further conversations, referencing news about Ai’s secret detention by the Chinese authorities in 2011 and the tax case for Fake Design.
“We hope for a speedy resolution to this situation and we continue to look forward to welcoming Ai Weiwei at the Royal Academy for his first major institutional exhibition in the UK this September”.
“Disappointing. Puts a blanket of sadness over my mood”, one wrote on his official Instagram account.
A representative of the UK Home Office in London said: “Reports that Mr. Ai has been refused a visa are incorrect”.
In contrast, Ai said last week that Germany, where his six -year-old son lives, had granted him a four year multiple-entry visa.
It turns out the artist will attend-but he may make only a brief appearance because UK immigration officials have refused him a business visa he requested to come and install the show.
“All applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the relevant legislation”, it said.
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The dissident was told he is limited to a three-week trip in a letter from the British Embassy in Beijing.
