Ai Weiwei's life story told through Chinese zodiac in new graphic novel

Artist and activist Ai Weiwei has collaborated with Italian cartoonist Gianluca Costantini on a graphic novel titled "Zodiac," published by Ten Speed Graphic with a script by Elettra Stamboulis. The 176-page book uses the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac as a framework to recount key episodes from Ai Weiwei's life, including his 2011 arrest in Beijing for criticizing the regime, his childhood in exile, his decision to study art in America, his relationship with his father (sentenced to forced labor by the Chinese regime), his love of comics, and his global success as an artist. Currently released only in the United States, the book is expected to be published in Italy soon. Costantini, known for his social media presence and activism (including a 2023 exhibition aboard the humanitarian ship Ocean Viking), illustrates the work with elegant drawings. The narrative blends Chinese folklore, biographical events, and reflections on contemporary sociopolitical climate.