Ai Weiwei to Reenact 81-Day Detention in 24-Hour Performance

On July 3, Ai Weiwei will debut his first extended performance, Sewing a Button, at Aviva Studios in Manchester. This 24-hour event revisits his 2011 detention by Chinese officials, during which he was imprisoned for 81 days on tax evasion allegations. Ai will occupy a replica of his prison cell, undergoing questioning from journalists Nihal Arthanayake, Emma Dabiri, Lemn Sissay, and Zing Tsjeng, while nine actors will take on the roles of guards and doctors. The electronic duo Space Afrika will create the soundscape, and the venue will stay open throughout the night, featuring a traditional Chinese tea house. Tickets are priced at £28.50 for two hours or £69.50 for the entire performance, which will also be livestreamed and shown at various sites.