Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to release book of first-hand stories from refugees


By AGENCY
The book 'Human Flow: Stories From The Global Refugee Crisis' is inspired by the interviews with refugees, aid workers, politicians, activists, doctors and local authorities that Weiwei and his collaborators conducted for his 2017 documentary, 'Human Flow.' Photos: AFP

The Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has announced a forthcoming new book, Human Flow: Stories From The Global Refugee Crisis, which will be published on October 13.

Human Flow: Stories From The Global Refugee Crisis is inspired by the interviews with refugees, aid workers, politicians, activists, doctors and local authorities that Weiwei and his collaborators conducted for his 2017 documentary, Human Flow.

While only a handful of the conversations were included in the film, the anthology presents 100 of these interviews in their entirety to provide "compelling first-person stories of the lives of those affected by the crisis and those on the front lines of working to address its immense challenges."

The 400-page book also features black-and-white photographs taken by Weiwei while filming Human Flow.

"Speaking in their own words, refugees give voice to their experiences of migrating across borders, living in refugee camps, and struggling to rebuild their lives in unfamiliar and uncertain surroundings. They talk about the dire circumstances that drove them to migrate, whether war, famine, or persecution; and their hopes and fears for the future," publisher Princeton University Press said of the book in a statement.

While Human Flow: Stories From The Global Refugee Crisis will arrive this fall, Weiwei is currently working on three full-length documentaries.

One of them will focus on the Rohingya refugee crisis, during which over 900,000 Burmese Rohingya were forcibly displaced or fled from the Rakhine state of Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2015.

The documentary is described by Weiwei as chronicling "a crisis that has almost been forgotten," with the Chinese artist announcing that the film is in the post-production stage and is due to premiere by the end of the year. - AFP Relaxnews

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Ai Weiwei , Artist , Book , Human Flow , Refugee , Crisis

Next In Culture

Hemingway classic still inspires Americans to run with bulls in Pamplona
Welcome to 'FIFA Gully': the Kolkata lane transformed by a love for football
Asia’s first Durian Experience Centre opens in KL, featuring museum, theatre
HK bookseller, seized by Chinese authorities in 2015, dies in Taiwan at 70
Haruki Murakami says his novels are 'different' from AI literature
In Melaka, Peranakan heritage gets a killer twist with murder mystery weekends
Malaysian photographer-turned-artist gives the forest a voice
New Haruki Murakami novel 'The Tale Of KAHO', goes on sale in Japan, his first with female protagonist
Weekend for the arts: BookStreet hits 5, Seni Reog in KL, 'Jom Kita Ke Laut'
Tens of thousands queue for the Bayeux Tapestry’s rare England show

Others Also Read