Ai Weiwei is at it again . This time , the controversial Chinese artist-activist has taken his first venture into music , releasing a heavy metal single and music video inspired by his harrowing detention by the government two years ago . A perpetual thorn in the Chinese government 's side , Ai , whose projects have spanned art installations , film , photography , writing , and architecture , was en route to Hong Kong in April 2011 when he was taken into custody at Beijing 's international airport . He was detained for 81 days amid a government crackdown on political activists , widely believed to stem from government fears of a potential uprising inspired by the Arab Spring . Upon his release , Ai was subjected to severe restrictions on his movements and later accused of tax evasion -- charges which he rejected and unsuccessfully challenged in court . Entitled `` Dumbass , '' the five-minute music video features the burly , bearded artist recreating his time in jail to expletive-laden lyrics denouncing government repression . `` The idea ( for this song ) first came to me while I was in detention and the guards watching me quietly inquired if I could sing , '' Ai told CNN . `` That was when I realized that both the guards and I were being detained ; in their three years in the army , they had never been allowed to leave this place . '' `` For young people around the ages of 19-20 , music can spark their imagination and passion , and this small incident moved me . After I was released , I thought I should write my own song , '' he added . Ai penned the lyrics to `` Dumbass , '' while rock musician Zuoxiao Zuzhou composed the music and Australia 's Christopher Doyle directed the video 's cinematography . Ai said the dark visuals , from the artist being taken into jail with a black hood to being perpetually accompanied by two guards while eating , sleeping , and using the bathroom , mirrored his ordeal . Some of his jabs at government repression in the video materialize in defiant fantastical elements , such as the river crabs scampering over the toilet ( `` hexie '' is a pun for `` harmonization '' -- a government euphemism for societal repression ) and the horse sitting in for the artist bound to a chair ( `` caonima '' is a pun for cursing someone 's mother ) . Ai said the `` dumbasses '' and `` f**kers '' he denounced in his lyrics also refer to scholars and intellectuals in China who `` do n't have a clear understanding of China . Despite going through so many disasters , they are still deluded . I find this ridiculous . '' In one scene , the artist 's head is shaved by a child -- a reference to his then two-year-old son whom Ai said he constantly thought of during his detention and whom he feared would no longer recognize him by the time he was released . He said the song may help him overcome the trauma of his detention , which he described as `` extremely difficult . '' At the same time , he said he has no regrets over his actions , believing that people have a responsibility to bring hope and warmth into the world -- and that as an artist , he has certain platforms of expression that he should use to this end . `` Many people are still imprisoned , many for much longer ( than me ) because we all expressed a difference of opinion and were accused of incitement to subvert state power , '' he added . `` So I have to speak out for them . '' Meanwhile , the artist addressed another pressing problem in China -- mainland Chinese , spooked by a scandal over melamine-tainted baby milk formula , have snapped up tins in Hong Kong , leading to a public outcry over the resulting shortage and the institution of a two-can ( 1.8 kg ) cross-border limit in March by the city 's authorities . `` Milk Formula '' debuted at a Hong Kong exhibition Friday -- a 10 meter by 8 meter map of China created with 1,815 tins of various brands of baby formula . `` Although China 's economy is developing , China 's food products and the environment have already been completely sacrificed because of deteriorating ethics , '' Ai said . He described the situation of people needing to seek milk formula outside their own country to feed their children as `` absurd . '' While Ai professed no solutions , saying that the purpose of art is raise questions , he said the problem of milk formula should be resolved by the people rather than through harsh legal measures . `` It shows that the 'one country , two systems ' [ policy ] is extremely contradictory and difficult to coordinate , '' he added . `` Dumbass '' is one of six songs on the topic of Ai 's detention -- the rest will be released next month as part of an album based on his personal experiences .
Chinese artist-activist Ai Weiwei releases heavy metal song , music video inspired by government detention . Music video recreates Ai Weiwei 's ordeal in jail , with expletive-laden lyrics denouncing government repression . Ai Weiwei also debuted art installation in China on hot-button , cross-border issue on milk formula . Ai will release music album Friday .