Book launch of "Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir": Ai Weiwei with Mira Jacob

Legendary artist Ai Weiwei celebrates the launch of his first work of graphic nonfiction, Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir, through discussion and visual presentation. As a child living in exile through multiple anti-intellectual political movements, Ai Weiwei often found himself with nothing to read but government-approved comic books. Although they were restricted by the confines of political propaganda, Ai Weiwei was struck by the artists’ ability to express their thoughts on art and humanity through graphic storytelling. Now, decades later, Ai Weiwei, co-writer Elettra Stamboulis, and illustrator Gianluca Costantini present Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir (Ten Speed Graphic; on sale 1/23/24).

Inspired by the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac and their associated human characteristics, Ai Weiwei masterfully interweaves ancient Chinese folklore with stories of his life, family, and renowned career in art and activism. Readers will find not only a personal history of Ai Weiwei and an examination of the sociopolitical climate in which he makes his art, but a philosophical exploration of what it means to find oneself through art and freedom of expression.