Ai Weiwei's 'Coronation' Documents Wuhan Lockdown Through Citizen Footage
Ai Weiwei's feature-length film 'Coronation' (2020) chronicles the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan from its first diagnosed case on December 1, 2019. The Chinese artist directed the film remotely, relying on footage shot by ordinary Wuhan citizens. The documentary exposes the Chinese government's initial denial of human-to-human transmission and its cover-up of the epidemic until late January 2020, when it imposed a strict lockdown, confining residents to their homes and sealing the city. The film captures hastily built hospitals, people barricaded indoors, and intense military control. It offers an inside perspective on the social, health, and political developments of the pandemic in Wuhan from day one.
Key facts
- Ai Weiwei directed the film 'Coronation' remotely using footage from Wuhan citizens.
- The first Covid-19 case was diagnosed in Wuhan on December 1, 2019.
- The Chinese government initially denied human transmission and concealed the outbreak.
- Wuhan was locked down in late January 2020, the first such lockdown globally.
- The film shows hospitals built in days, people confined at home, and military control.
- 'Coronation' was released in 2020.
- The film is a feature-length documentary.
- Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist.
Entities
Artists
- Ai Weiwei
Locations
- Wuhan
- China