The renowned artist Ai Weiwei has drawn a striking parallel between contemporary political censorship in the West and the oppressive regime under Mao Zedong in China. Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, the 66-year-old dissident expressed his concerns, stating that the atmosphere in today’s Western society discourages questioning and argument, fostering timidity.
Ai Weiwei’s comments were prompted by the cancellation of his exhibition by the Lisson Gallery in London in November. The cancellation came in the wake of his social media remarks regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. In his now-deleted post, Ai suggested a transfer of the “sense of guilt around the persecution of the Jewish people” being used against the Arab world. He also pointed out the influence of the Jewish community in the US across media, finance, and culture, tying it to the significant annual military aid provided by the United States to Israel.
In response to the incident, Ai Weiwei highlighted the growing trend of individuals facing repercussions for expressing their basic opinions on various platforms. He noted that even innocuous remarks could lead to firings and censorship, lamenting the prevalent environment where people feel constrained in freely expressing their thoughts.
'I grew up within heavy political censorship in China. Today in the West, you're doing exactly the same.'
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 4, 2024
Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei says, "You cannot talk about the truth" nowadays.#TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF
📺 Sky 501, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/FLWsaqXUUM
Reflecting on his own upbringing under political censorship in China, Ai drew a direct comparison to the situation in the West. He emphasised the societal constraints and pointed out the striking similarity to the heavy political censorship he experienced during Mao’s era.
Ai Weiwei also condemned the suspension of two professors from New York University for their comments related to the Gaza conflict. He likened this to a cultural revolution, expressing concern that differing attitudes were being systematically suppressed across various sectors, including universities and the media.
Critiquing the state of contemporary Western artists, Ai accused them of being “corrupted by capitalism.” According to him, their primary motivations are the pursuit of wealth and fame, rather than actively defending the fundamental principles of freedom of expression.
Despite facing adversity for his outspoken views, Ai Weiwei remains steadfast in his commitment to speaking out. He sees it as the responsibility of artists to defend values that contribute to the collective good, asserting that personal consequences should not deter them from advocating for what is right. Currently residing in Portugal with a studio in Berlin and property in the UK, Ai Weiwei continues to use his platform to address political issues and advocate for human rights and democracy.
If you like our content, join us in helping to bring reality and decency back by SUBSCRIBING to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1Ll1ylCg8U19AhNl-NoTg AND SUPPORTING US where you can: Award Winning Independent Citizen Media Needs Your Help. PLEASE SUPPORT US FOR JUST £2 A MONTH https://dorseteye.com/donate/
