The Home Office is to reassess its decision to refuse artist Ai Weiwei’s visa application, after initially accusing him of lying on the form.
The artist posted a letter on Instagram stating his entry to the UK had been restricted because he failed to declare a ‘criminal conviction’.
The document, signed by an entry clearance manager from the UK Visas and Immigration department, states: “It is a matter of public record that you have previously received a criminal conviction in China, and you have not declared this. While an exception has been made in this instance, any future application you submit must be completed as accurately as possible.”
It is unclear what conviction the letter is referring to. Athough Weiwei was detained in China for 81 days in 2011, he has never actually been charged or convicted of a crime.
Although Weiwei has been granted a 20-day visa, the short time span may mean he cannot supervise the installation of his landmark solo exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts opening on 15 September.
Tim Marlow, artistic director at the Royal Academy, responded to the news, telling the BBC: “We’re concerned that Ai Weiwei has not been granted a six month UK visa by the British government. We hope for a speedy resolution to this situation and we continue to look forward to welcoming Ai Weiwei at the Royal Academy for his first major institutional exhibition in the UK this September.”
Weiwei, who is well known for his political activism, was arrested and held in 2011 over alleged crimes of bigamy and tax evasion, but was released without charge. However, he was fined 15m yuan ($2.4m, £1.55m) for tax evasion in a civil case in 2012. Earlier this month Weiwei’s confiscated passport was returned after Chinese authorities confiscated it almost four years ago.
More on a-n.co.uk:
What makes a successful campaign? – Manick Govinda on the Visiting Artists Campaign
