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A new public art initiative marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, inviting artists

to examine the state of democracy and social justice.

The very first featured artist is renowned Chinese dissident Ai Wei Wei

Wei, whose powerful blend of art and activism has long focused on global human rights.

Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports for our series Art in Action, exploring the intersection

of art and democracy and part of our canvas coverage.

To spend time with the artist I Wei Wei is to experience the playful.

I see you from the lens, see?

Oh yes.

Yeah?

The very serious.

We always have to defend the fundamental values about who we are.

We have to defend humanity, human rights, freedom of speech.

So I'm going to, and always a sense of purpose in what art can do.

Art should be activism because art is in questioning establishment.

Art is in questioning what has already been a fixed idea.

It looks so nice.

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