Ai Weiwei: Visual artist | Full Address and Q&A | Oxford Union

SUBSCRIBE for more speakers ► is.gd/OxfordUnion
Oxford Union on Facebook: / theoxfordunion
Oxford Union on Twitter: @OxfordUnion
Website: www.oxford-union.org/
Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist.
ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since 1823, the Union has been promoting debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.

[@merfymac]

I don’t get is why the interviewers spend most of their short time with Ai prompting him to retell a biography most know or can find out simply by reading about his history. Perhaps nobody noticed but Ai Weiwei is not a dead artist. He’s there. There on that stair. Right there. A Chinaman with shoes on. Well, I declare! You can ask questions about the living indescribable familiar world of today we share.

[@lynnhubbard844]

they are students and young, probably an assignment

[@shamgarsitar1170]

What makes his story so compelling is that it never changes ⚖️ He is unwavering in his ethical & moral commitment to 🖼️ & humanity on a personal & global scale ⚒️

[@troygoss6400]

Great interview. Thanks for posting the interaction with this artist.

[@perspicaciouscritic]

27:33 - Unless, I misheard (or misunderstood), in answering to the definition of art, I think Ai Weiwei meant to say, "once you *can* [as opposed to can't] give a clear definition, that is not art anymore."

[@catherinehoy5548]

23:10 This marvellous man says 'the internet has become an abusive use of public space' quod erat demonstrandum... the comments below.

[@lynnhubbard844]

and his language skills have certainly greatly improved...I saw a doc on him a few years back

[@Cinepobrefilmfestival]

Oxford needs to pic smarter interviewers

[@merfymac]

No need to presume the interviewers are dumb. It’s more polite to demand smarter questions. Agree or no?

[@lynnhubbard844]

they are still students and probably, because of their age, cannot grasp what he is communicating

[@ShannonJacobs0]

Read one of his books and wanted to send him some thoughts about language learning, but never figured out how to do it. Unlikely to watch any long video on KZbin these days because of the increase in offensive ads, many of which are rightwing propaganda.

[@linstein5903]

A fantastic interview opportunity wasted by a bumbling and incoherent interviewer. Watching him attempt to reinterpret a question by simply repeating it, suggests a lack of ability.

[@lynnhubbard844]

have some patience...we were all university students at some time---this is a university and a fabulous opportunity for these students, whether they can fully grasp what is said yet, but they will connect it at some point later.

[@linstein5903]

@@lynnhubbard844 judging by his inability to speak coherently, he's more university of East London than university of oxford.

[@lynnhubbard844]

poor Hong Kong

[@ishrendon6435]

Why??? Theyre privalleged than most of chin. Hong kongers didnt struggle like the chinese have . They were handed crap on a silver platter unlike chinese people

[@gregevigan]

Demolish

[@paulmatters2641]

Not visual. BS artist.

[@paulmatters2641]

@hit_alive BS in. BS out. Your post is an example of that. He is a tax avoider artist champ.

[@ishrendon6435]

@@paulmatters2641 exactly