Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has sent a defiant message to the authorities in Beijing in an opening address to the Stockholm Film Festival where he is on the jury - but in spirit only.
The 56-year-old avant-garde artist, who is not allowed to leave China, is represented at the festival by an empty chair that he designed himself in an ironic reference to his inability to attend.
"I feel sorry I can't come. That's why I have designed and sent something symbolic," he said in a pre-recorded video message broadcast on Tuesday at a news conference.
"I hope it can give some kind of statement on the way authorities can limit freedom of speech, can limit basic human rights for artists to travel or participate in cultural activities - very ruthlessly and with no explanation."
"I'm still living under a kind of soft detention. My passport is still in the authorities' hands."
His Ming Dynasty-style chair - shipped from Beijing for the 12-day event - sat conspicuously between the other jury members in front of a cinema screen bearing the burly artist's bearded and somewhat haggard image.
The chair had one quirky addition: a curved bar preventing anyone from sitting on it.
Ai, known as much for his human rights activism as his art, was detained for 81 days in 2011 during a roundup of activists, accused of massive tax fraud.
He was one of many government critics who were jailed, detained or disappeared into police custody in early 2011, when calls for anti-government protests in China - echoing those during the Arab Spring revolts - rattled the authorities.
Since his release, he has been prevented from leaving the country.
In his video message on Tuesday he said film was a powerful way to communicate and expose corruption.
"In the internet age especially documentary films have made a great appearance in talking about issues, discussing truths, and also revealing secrets about those in power... especially when the power is not elected by the people."
The event runs through November 17.
