Ai Weiwei performs dance moves from Gangnam Style

Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has revealed his motivation for releasing a video in which he dances to the smash hit viral video 'Gangnam Style'.

Ai said he decided to make the humorous film after hearing that a friend's family home was being demolished by Chinese authorities.

"Our happiness is constantly being taken away from us, our homes demolished, we are always controlled, passports can be taken away from us, all these can affect our happiness. However, every morning we have the opportunity to give others something to laugh about. Laughter is important," Ai said.

Ai said Chinese authorities had quickly closed down the video.

"We uploaded the video early this morning, so the video was being played around 9 am on many Chinese websites, seen by tens of thousands, it was very hot. But now, the video cannot be seen anymore," he said.

In the four-minute video, Ai imitates South Korean performer Psy's signature horse-riding dance. At one point, Ai pulls a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and waves them in the air in a possible reference to the 81 days he spent in detention in 2011.

Ai said he was surprised by how many "media outlets" ran his video which is entitled "Grass Mud Horse Style" after the animal invented by Chinese citizens to protest against internet censorship.