The exiled Chinese artist spoke to Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips about the cancellation of his exhibition by a gallery in London.

He was responding to a question about the cancellation of his exhibition by the Lisson Gallery in London in November following comments on social media referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict.

His post, which was subsequently deleted, suggested the “sense of guilt around the persecution of the Jewish people” had been transferred and used against the Arab world.

Referring to his own family’s exile when he was one year old, the activist said: "I grew up within this heavy political censorship.

“I realise now, today in the West, you are doing exactly the same.”

He drew parallels with the disastrous purge under Mao, which took China to the brink of anarchy.

Criticising the suspension of two New York University professors for comments related to Gaza, Ai said: "This is really like a cultural revolution, which is really trying to destroy anybody who have different attitudes, not even a clear opinion.

Ai’s art often addresses political issues in China and he has frequently criticised Beijing’s record on human rights and democracy.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      0·
      8 months ago

      …which was then reported on by Western media and he wasn’t thrown into a prison camp.

      So again, he’s allowed to say that.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
          0·
          8 months ago

          We’re lucky America doesn’t run any torture camps where they lock up people without trial.

          Which one has he been put in because of what he said? Please name the facility.

          • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
            0·
            8 months ago

            I debunked your entire point with evidence and you’re pivoting.

            Address this line:

            We’re lucky America doesn’t run any torture camps where they lock up people without trial.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
              0·
              8 months ago

              My entire point is that he is able to say what he wants to say without being thrown into one of those camps.

              Thus it is not exactly the same.

              You seem to have a strange idea in your head that it is impossible to criticize America (he said the West as a whole, by the way) without comparing it to one of history’s worst dictatorships.

              Believe it or not, it’s not a contest. You can criticize both and still admit one was worse.

              Either that, or you know nothing about 20th century Chinese history.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                  0·
                  8 months ago

                  Again- this is not a contest.

                  Let me ask you this- if censorship in the west was EXACTLY THE SAME as in Mao’s China, how were you able to post this on Lemmy?

                  Also- why is Rupert Murdoch still alive and publishing what Ai Weiwei has to say?

                  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
                    0·
                    8 months ago

                    People are openly calling for Nazi style genocide on Palestinians, even in our governments.

                    And anyone who doesn’t support literal Genocide gets censored.

                    Censorship doesn’t just equate to being thrown in jail. The West wants their illusion of freedom of speech alive so people continue to defend it.

                    Also - Ai was platformed on Democracy Now! as well.

      • Verdant Banana@lemmy.world
        01·
        8 months ago

        West has to look more democratic than China to keep the show mean “democracy” going so of course we allow more than China, but news is still being censored and journalists are being silenced in the West as well

        propaganda machines got you thinking otherwise

        has to be two teams each on “opposing sides” to get the citizens rallied in the right camp and thinking