Ai Weiwei: Sewing a Button
July 4, 2026
11h 0m
Overview
Fifteen years ago, Ai Weiwei was secretly detained without any formal charges by Public Security in China. For 81 days, he lived in a single cell, eating his meals, washing and exercising between interrogations. Now Ai Weiwei presents Sewing a Button – a day-long live performance work re-enacting this brutal, life-changing experience. Sewing a Button condenses the artist's detention into 24 hours, inviting audiences to bear witness to his experience live at Manchester's Aviva Studios. In a re-creation of his cell, he will sleep, eat, write and wash – sometimes, he will be interrogated. Unsettling and provocative, Sewing a Button exposes the fragility of personal freedoms in today’s uncertain world.
Directed by
Where to watch
In United States
Not available to stream, rent, or buy in United States right now.
Cast
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