Divided – Beijing's Cultural Scene Ahead of the Olympics - arts.21 02.08.2008

Beijing's Olympic Games are more than just a sporting event. The question of how to deal with the games has split the Chinese capital's artistic community. Artists like Cai Guoqiang are working together with the government, helping to organize the opening ceremonies. For others, like artist and social commentator Ai Weiwei, that would be unthinkable. Some are even daring to cast an ironic eye on Olympic mania, treading the fine line between artistic freedom and state censorship. ARTS.21 pays a visit to Beijing's cultural scene.