He takes photos of everyday life in China, everyday places and people. The difference is that while Berenice Abbott's work was supported by government dollars to capture the life of a city - the good and the bad - Ai Weiwei has ended up a political prisoner of the Chinese government for doing much the same thing. In 2011, he was arrested and held in prison for several months. While currently out on bail, he is prohibited from leaving the country. His popular blog was taken offline as well.