Shouting Out

On May 12, 2008, the Wenchuan Earthquake occurred in Sichuan Province, with school buildings and student dormitories collapsing, which caused many student casualties. On December 15, 2008, Ai Weiwei Studio initiated the 5.12 Citizens' Investigation, discovering 5,196 names of student victims. In October 2013, Ai Weiwei began an audio project, entitled 'Shouting Out', in which he shouted the individual names of the student victims. Within two months, he shouted 2,639 names of the student victims and lost his voice. The remaining names were shouted by assistants at Ai Weiwei Studio. In eight months, a total of 5,196 names were shouted. The total audio recording has a duration of 1 hour 40 minutes 42 seconds, including the participation of 14 people. Participants include Ai Weiwei, Chen Shuo, Chen Chao, Ma Yan, Sun Mo, Wang Zhongxia, Cui Xing, Guo Mengqiu, Chen Wei, Edmond, Xiao Ye, Wu Tun, Song Xiaojing, and Yao Gaocai.