Blenheim Palace, one of the grandest stately homes in the UK, is opening its doors to contemporary artists from around the world.
But Ai Weiwei is the first contemporary artist to exhibit there.
Unable to leave his native China after his passport was confiscated in 2011, the artist has had to organise his exhibition from Beijing.
"I'm an artist who has exhibitions which I've never had the chance to attend, more than the exhibitions I have been able to attend, that's a fact. It's difficult but it's kind of charming."
The artist's vocal criticism on human rights abuses have landed him in hot water with Chinese authorities.
In 2011 he was held for 81 days without charge, sparking global outrage.
"I still don't have a chance to leave this nation for the past three or four years," he said from his gated residential compound.
"I'm still under self-detention which makes it reasonably difficult, but still I try to see this is the given condition for my art. I have to really respect the condition and to make something happen."
The exhibition includes "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Gold", is Weiwei's reinterpretation of the legendary bronze zodiac head statues that once surrounded the fountain-clock at Emperor Yuanming Yuan's Beijing imperial retreat.
They're part of the launch of the new Blenheim Art Foundation - a not-for-profit project which aims to install contemporary art in the historic settings of the Palace.
It was founded by Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill, son of His Grace 11th Duke of Marlborough, a dedicated collector of contemporary art.
More than 5,000 miles away in Beijing Ai considers how, as an artist, he never gets to attend his own exhibitions.
"I'm an artist who has exhibitions which I've never had the chance to attend, more than the exhibitions I have been able to attend, that's a fact. It's difficult but it's kind of charming," he said.
Michael Frahm, the director of the Blenheim Art Foundation, called Ai Weiwei a unique character who stands up for what he believes in.
"He doesn't hold back, he brings many cases of corruption into the light in China that nobody would dare to do and he just keeps pushing," he said.
Ai Weiwei's works will be on show at Blenheim Palace from 1st October until 14th December 2014.
