Chinese dissident artists Ai Weiwei spoke to members of the media in the studio after he was freed on bail in Beijing, June 23, 2011.
BEIJING (Reuters)-Chinese dissident artists Ai Weiwei vowed on Wednesday to counter charges of tax evasion "to death", a day after the Government ordered a company that connected him to pay 15 million yuan ($ 2.4 million) in back taxes and fines.
54 year-old artist, who has been a thorn in the side of the Government to the art of satire and criticism of contemporary China, was detained without charge for 81 days move which drew criticism from Western Governments this year.
He was released at the end of June on condition that he did not speak to the foreign media, since when he was mainly kept to himself and has been reluctant to accept the interview.
But in a two-hour interview with Reuters, Ai, who had a hand in designing the bird's nest Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, showed flashes of previous fiery themselves.