“Beijing is not the old Beijing any more,” explains Ai Weiwei. “It’s a city that doesn’t really belong to its residents.”

But in a city not designed to consider ordinary people’s lives, dissident artist and human rights protestor Ai Weiwei – who spent four years under house arrest – reveals how he has found sanctuary in his home neighbourhood of Caochangdi.

In the first instalment of Guardian Cities/Tate special series The Artist and Their City, Ai explains how this forgotten suburb of the Chinese capital is home to his studio and where he has tried to foster spaces for creative freedom and artistic expression.

The film offers an insight into the space where Ai created many of the pieces that go on display at his forthcoming London show at The Royal Academy.

To find out more about Ai Weiwei, watch the incredible documentary Never Sorry or check out his show at the RA, from September 19.