Detained artist Ai Weiwei offered Berlin university post

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei poses for a photograph with his new installation entitled 'Sunflower Seeds', at its unveiling in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern gallery, in London October 11, 2010.

BERLIN (Reuters) - Detained Chinese artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei has been offered a visiting teaching post at the Berlin University of the Arts, the university said on Wednesday.

The prominent artist and critic of China's ruling Communist Party was stopped from boarding a flight to Hong Kong from Beijing on April 3 and detained by border police.

His detention has sparked criticism from Western governments over the treatment of rights activists.

Chinese police said the 53-year-old Ai was under investigation for "suspected economic crimes" and reports from government-controlled media alleged he avoided taxes.

The university's offer had been in the works since December. Last month the artist said he planned to open a studio in Berlin as his European base.

His work "Sunflower Seeds," an installation of millions of handmade porcelain seeds, is currently on show at Britain's Tate Modern museum. A 100 kg pile of the porcelain seeds fetched 349,250 pounds ($570,800) at auction in London in February.

(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Michel Rose and Sophie Hares)