# Autobiographical Incarceration Art Artist Ai Weiwei’s New Installation Depicts His Arrest By Lacey-Jane Walsh | Published 2013-06-02 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artist-ai-weiwei References: [juxtapoz](http://www.juxtapoz.com/current/ai-weiwei-sacred-installation-venice-art-biennale-2013) & [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/ai-weiweis-s-a-c-r-e-d-depicts-scenes-from-his-incarceration/) Incredible Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has a new [art installation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/folded-time) in Venice that takes audiences through his 81 days in captivity after his arrest in 2011. These deceivingly realistic installations depict Weiwei being guarded while he sleeps, eats and sits. Being incarcerated for 81 days isn’t an easy thing, but Ai Weiwei decides to turn it into a type of [autobiographical art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lets-start-over) instead of putting it behind him. He takes a tough real life situation and turns it into art. Each room in this [intriguing installation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/your-psychoacoustic-light-ensemble) is incredibly small, but they are apparently close to the size of the actual detainment rooms Weiwei was confined to a few years ago. This brave installation reveals the terrible prison system that Weiwei was subjected to. He also reveals the terrible conditions of his time spent in captivity by way of extremely detailed art. Artist Ai Weiwei makes a kind of silent protest with this installation that somehow speaks louder than words ever could. Photo Credits: [juxtapoz](http://www.juxtapoz.com/current/ai-weiwei-sacred-installation-venice-art-biennale-2013class=FourteenG), [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/ai-weiweis-s-a-c-r-e-d-depicts-scenes-from-his-incarceration/class=FourteenG) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.8/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 5% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Autobiographical Incarceration Art:** Turning real-life struggles into meaningful art installations. - **Realistic Installations:** Deceivingly realistic art instillations that take audience through an experience. - **Art as Silent Protest:** Using art installations to speak for those who cannot. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art:** The art industry should consider the trend of autobiographical incarceration art to create meaningful and engaging installations. - **Interior Design:** Realistic installations should be considered in interior design to create memorable experiences for guests. - **Activism:** The use of art as a silent protest can inspire activists to use unique methods to spread their message. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Refugee-Informed Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-life-jackets-installation.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Immersive Hotel Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hotel-art-installation.md) - [Provocative Banned Books Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banned-books-jail.md) - [Rattan Sculptural Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thai-art-gallery.md) - [Poignant Multimedia Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multimedia-art-installation.md) - [Airport-Based Retro Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/twilight-of-the-warriors-walled-in.md) - [Paper-Made Mosaic Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/real-life-architecture-exhibition.md) - [Colossal AI Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-artwork.md)