Why Freedom Matters: Ask Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei can tell you a little something about freedom.  One of the world's most-famous artists is having a showing at the Smithsonian but he won't be there.  It seems that authorities in Beijing won't give him back his passport.  He chats with TIME about his artistry, his activism and the China-citizen-snooping system.

Read the entire interview here.

Related important information:

CyberDissidents.org

Advancing Human Rights - specific to Ai Weiwei

Illustration credit:  Smithsonian Perspectives:  Ai Weiwei, May 12, 2012 - April 7, 2013, Sackler Gallery