The Chinese authorities are in a conundrum with Ai Weiwei. The Chinese artist was recently voted the world’s most powerful artist, although in response to this he did say that he did not feel particularly powerful. But even if his sense of power is in doubt, Beijing clearly has its hands full with him. Now Beijing has another problem with him. Supporters by their thousands are paying donations to help with Ai’s tax bill of 15 million yuan (US$ 2.4m / £1.5m) which was effectively the price of the artist’s release for “good behaviour” following his recent arrest and detention. The actual bill has only just been issued with a demand for an initial payment two weeks later.

In an act of provocative defiance towards the Chinese authorities, the artist and dissident Ai Weiwei has launched a scathing attack on repression in Beijing. He has, of course, done this before, but this attack comes shortly after his release from detention in June after nearly three months of detention. In an essay for Newsweek magazine’s website, headlined The City: Beijing Mr Ai called the capital a “city of violence” where nobody could speak out because they were denied basic human rights.

Ai Weiwei, one of China’s most prominent artists who designed the Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium, was arrested yesterday. “Ai was going through customs early [at Beijing International Airport] Sunday when two officials escorted him away,” one of the artist’s assistants said. He was about to board a flight to Hong Kong.