Thaindian News

London, May 11 (IANS) Indian-origin sculptor Anish Kapoor has called for museums and galleries across the world to be closed for a day to protest China’s detention of artist Ai Weiwei, BBC reported.

Kapoor condemned China’s detention of artist Ai Weiwei. The Chinese artist was detained at Beijing airport last month while passing through security checks for a flight to Hong Kong.

Ai is an outspoken critic of China’s human rights record.

Noted sculptor Kapoor dedicated his Leviathan art installation in Paris to Ai. The art installation was unveiled Tuesday in the nave of the Grand Palais in Paris for the Monumenta 2011 exhibition.

Kapoor told BBC Radio 4’s Today that artists must speak with “a communal voice”.

Ai’s sister Gao Ge told BBC she had not news of the artist and had been given no information as to where he was being detained.

“It’s a month now that the poor man has been held without a voice, but not only that, his family doesn’t know where he is,” Kapoor was quoted as saying.

“This is not a situation that is acceptable in any circumstances. It does bear witness to the barbarity of governments if they’re that paranoid that they have to put away artists. It’s a ridiculous situation.”

While calling for the art world to unite, the sculptor said: “Perhaps museums and galleries across the world should be closed for one day.”

Two exhibitions of Ai’s work will open in London this week.

While Somerset House will display his Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads from Thursday until 26 June, the Lisson Gallery is also exhibiting some of Ai’s key works from Friday.