Dissident Chinese artist given his passport back

BEIJING // Chinese authorities have given artist Ai Weiwei his passport back, four years after confiscating it.

The government critic yesterday posted an Instagram photo of himself holding a Chinese passport with the caption, “Today, I got my passport.”

Ai’s representative confirmed that the passport had been returned, but did not respond to further questions.

The artist was detained by authorities for about three months in 2011 but not charged. His design firm was later given a US$ 2.4 million ( Dh8.8m) tax bill, which he fought unsuccessfully in Chinese courts.

Chinese authorities often deny passports to dissidents who might embarrass the country’s ruling Communist Party overseas.

Ai’s work has received worldwide attention, making him one of China’s best-known dissidents.

Britain’s Royal Academy of Arts said that the artist would travel to London for a major exhibition of his work in September.

“This is wonderful news for Ai Weiwei, his family and for artists worldwide,” said Royal Academy director Tim Marlow. “We are delighted to announce that he will be joining us as we finalise the installation of his exhibition.”

In 2010, he filled a vast hall at the Tate Modern art gallery in Britain with 100 million ceramic sunflower seeds.

Before his detention, Ai had spoken out about several national scandals, including the deaths of students in shoddily built schools that collapsed during a massive earthquake in 2008. The government has blacklisted him from any mention in state media, and he is not allowed to post anything on China’s social media.