"Many of My Shows Have Been Canceled": Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei on Israel, Gaza & Censorship

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We speak with acclaimed Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who recently had an exhibition in London canceled after he publicly criticized Israel's assault on Gaza in a controversial tweet posted in November. "We are gradually losing the ground of democracy or personal freedom," says Ai. He joins Democracy Now! to discuss his longtime support of Palestine and Western hypocrisy over human rights and free speech. Ai Weiwei also describes his new graphic novel Zodiac, about his experiences as a Chinese dissident.
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[@hpmoxie4660]

When he criticised China he became celebrated; when he criticised the untouchable, he is canceled

[@robinbjorge9329]

so true

[@Jews_C0ntr0l_daa__worldd]

😂😂😂 cuz he’s just a tokenized pawn

[@hc1897]

Sadly he doesn't realise he is just a very large and classy kind of western wumao.

[@nesso.3311]

Exactement. Il en a profité. Il n'a que ce qu'il mérite. C'est un crétin

[@sunset3052]

well said...

[@xhosagibran370]

The same people cheering him for criticizing China now suddenly ban him for criticizing Israel. The irony.

[@guishenStreetB]

Ikr

[@thinkbeforeyoutype7106]

Exactly! The western governments HATE actual freedom, democracy, and human rights when it doesn’t suits them.

[@thinkbeforeyoutype7106]

What’s becoming so obvious to people now is that colonialism has never ended just rebranded with different terms. From Natives indigenous people being called “savages” in the old days to now being called “terrorist” by neocolonialists who are neoliberals, neoconservatives, and zionist. 1) Savages is now “terrorist” 2) Civilizing them is now “bringing them democracy” We can all see Israel is a colonial project being supported by former and current colonials such as U.S, and UK who also control territories of indigenous natives in Caribbean Islands, Pacific Islands, Hawaii, and many more. The liberation of Palestine will definitely give RISE to many indigenous natives around the world to free themselves from western domination. This is the underline ripple effect that the U.S government and its puppet allies don’t want to happen.

[@geraldc867]

There's no irony, these are different situations, entirely. China does not respect human rights of any citizens, just CCP party members, and any Democratic freedoms Chinese citizens think they have are muted by the lack of choice for President Xi each election.. Israel does not respect the Hamas radical Islamic terrorists, but is trying hard to avoid killing Gaza Palestinians. But in the fog of war, mistakes happen. If Israel really wanted to practice genocide against Palestinians, they could easily just expel all Palestinians in to the Egyptian desert to fend for themselves, creating a huge humanitarian crisis. With a history of anti-Semitic genocide against European Jews, and the disappearance of Jewish populations in all of northern Africa over many decades, the Israelis have every right to protect themselves from radical Islamic terrorists, and if those terrorists are Palestinian, then the terrorists have chosen their path to war and death.

[@alantan9863]

An irony. This would persuade more Mainland Chinese that America's political system is not necessarily better than the current Communist led government. It might suits the Americans and the rest of the West, but it would be better to retain the current status quo inside Mainland China.

[@WhoOneIs]

Ai Weiwei is shocked to discover that Western societies are not free as he thought. You are free to criticise China but not Israel…

[@user-nf1zz9rq4x]

Yeah Exactly the irony!! Aiweiwei had a slap on his face from his long-time worshiped western freedom of experience and human rights! Hahaha

[@jackorange1882]

BINGO.. U WIN. Hope this moron realizes he has been used all along.. Nothing but a big mouthed pawn... Karma is a bitch..

[@hermesliteratus882]

He seems to be a nice man, just a bit naive politically.

[@lindyashford7744]

He does not seem shocked at all, just surprised at the swiftness of reaction to what was really not anything new. Always nice to hear what he has to say, his perspective on the current world situation seems to be spot on.

[@sophrosyne88]

Not the same level. In China he got imprisoned. In the west he got starved.

[@user-ul9is6nn1v]

Unbelievable how the system acts.. the Gaza war is eye opening on a grand scale!

[@Scifi4life]

If only people spoke out about genocide in Africa.

[@hd.37]

Rothschilds

[@hd.37]

The Rothschilds

[@Anonymous------]

No war, just one sided invasion and illegal occupation.

[@realtalk6195]

They've always censored pro-Palestine activism and anti-lsrael criticism! It is nothing new. That's what Google and Facebook have censored since the late-2000s! There are literally unconstitutional laws in several US states essentially banning the boycotting of lsrael as well.

[@Nobody-Nowhere]

I love how US celebrates Chinese artists as long as they criticize Chinese government... but when them or Israel... cancelled :)

[@hermesliteratus882]

Obviously criticizing China is 100% political correctness whereas criticizing the US is not.

[@zenastronomy]

in every society you can't criticise the ruling elite. in china it is the ccp. in west it is this tribe. what he mistook as political freedom in the west, was merely public criticism aimed at puppet kings. put in as placeholders by them to fool the public into thinking they have freedoms. As soon as public and himself tried to criticise the real ruling elite in west, he got punished. Just like with ccp in china, putin in Russia, bin saud in Saudi Arabia etc. You can tell who runs a country by the fact they are untouchable and smack down anyone who dares to criticise them.

[@nwbw217]

He is criticizing a free pluralist Democracy and siding with a theocratic dictatorship that has zero human rights and zero free speech, stones women and throws gays off buildings. Does this sound rational to you?

[@antihypocrisy8978]

Double standards. Plus you cannot piss off the complex in the US. They own everything.

[@hughjass6646]

After suffering from brutal Chinese communist regime, and finding refuge in a democratic society, he criticizes one democratic country for supporting the other democratic country in its fight with a regime where everyone is born terrorist. Woke artists must get their pseudo-profound BS act together

[@sonnyvanngo3950]

He fled China for more free of expression only to be silenced by the West for his freedom of expression. How ironic😂

[@johnsullivan8673]

He fled China because he got too uppity. Don’t think he’s a nice guy, he’s not. “Dissidents” like him are ostracized by enforcing punishment against criminal acts that would most likely be overlooked for others of his stature but more “appropriate” political leanings. In other words, he’s done some bad stuff (like sexual harassment).

[@dualidea]

Hahaha😂

[@userlili134]

It's slowly but surely becoming a Banana Republic/North Corea

[@lorsheckmolseh3345]

@@userlili134, the DPRK with free housing, food, clothing, education, health care ... enjoys 100 times more democracy than such water carriers of Western oligarchy like you, repeating obediently the talking points of the bullsh1tmedia like a parrot.

[@marciamartins1992]

Ain't that some shit.

[@Allgood33]

Ai Wei Wei now understands how it is to be a western pawn. Only when you serve their fancy.

[@user-nf1zz9rq4x]

Yeah Exactly the irony!! Aiweiwei had a slap on his dog face from his long-time worshiped western Master(preaching freedom of experience and human rights to the entire world). Hahaha

[@kennethkan8514]

Wake up to Western " Freedom" ! Time to grow up! You are just a tool!😂

[@why-lj5tc]

@@user-nf1zz9rq4x he's just consistent. Criticizing China doesn't mean sucking up to the West. There's literally a photo of Ai Weiwei sticking the middle finger towards the White House. Too bad that ignorant, binary-minded, campist worldviews like yours are more popular than "both sides bad" or "evaluate every side" worldviews

[@why-lj5tc]

@@user-nf1zz9rq4x he's just consistent. Criticizing China doesn't mean sucking up to the West. There's literally a photo of Ai Weiwei sticking the middle finger towards the White House. Too bad that ignorant, binary-minded, campist worldviews like yours are more popular than "both sides bad" or "evaluate every side" worldviews. It's the bare minimum, but such consistency looks amazing in this world where too many people treat global politics as a football game

[@ShamanKish]

@@user-nf1zz9rq4x Freedom of expression only privately.

[@sammosaurusrex]

Ai Weiwei getting cancelled is wild. He's usually a hero of the establishment because of his criticism of China from within China.

[@paulheydarian1281]

The establishment only uses anyone as long as they sing to their tune. If you sing to your own tune, you're no longer useful to them and will get cancelled.

[@jtruque]

Yeah they will let him lie about China but they won’t let him say what we all already know about Israel

[@AndresPerez-tg9ms]

Yes, the hypocrisy of the government!

[@rashidtayidi8370]

So well said.@@paulheydarian1281

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

Probably much more because he is a useful tool to attack China. I really doubt that his talent would be nearly recognised in the West if he would support the Chinese government.

[@kwkTube]

Identifying which “art” galleries are canceling artists would help us as individuals to NOT support those “art” galleries.

[@rashidtayidi8370]

Great idea.

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

He was not recognised in the West simply by his talent, but by being an useful tool to attack China. Don't expect any apologies

[@alletsnow]

Lisson Gallery in New York and London, and the Galerie Max Hetzler in Paris and Berlin

[@markuc]

​@@alletsnow Thanks I suppose the reach of the Zionists are extensive, beyond finance, media and now even art. And looking at who we are NOT allowed to criticize, we know it's not China that the people should be afraid of, it's Zionists.

[@eshna2012]

AGO in Toronto Canada let go of their FIRST EVER First Nation Director, because she is Pro Palestine and the Art Gallery has rich Zionists on the board. IMAGINE that! Zionists are protected OVER First Nations people when our government continues to insist we’re making amends for those gross schools this country use to run 😫🤷‍♀️😫

[@europainvicta3907]

The first rule of Democracy; never criticise Israel.

[@marciamartins1992]

Cat got your tongue.

[@saehian]

Communist Isreal control the West. 😂

[@thulomanchay]

The rules have changed. I have pointed out several times why Israel is fighting Hamas. Giving facts, historical records, quotes of Palestinians, etc. My comments get deleted. Even when I carefully word my comment to stay withing Community Guidelines. Its the narrative. Anything against Israel is permissible. Even atrocious falsehood.

[@cristinacamero3733]

That's what we need, more people to speak up against the Genocide. I just hope people come out of ignorance and see what is really going on. We are more. We shouldn't tolerate this type of censoring and behavior.

[@Scifi4life]

Why won't anyone talk about genocide in Sudan?

[@Hwy-01]

@@Scifi4lifeWhat does “Sudan” have to do with this video?

[@chantel1997]

​@@Scifi4life because Sudan isn't trending like Gaza is 😂😂😂😂 these people are pathetic

[@Scifi4life]

@Hwy-01 he mentioned more people need to speak out against genocide

[@keithmckeehan5253]

Like Hamas promising (literally swearing to GOD) that they will kill every Jew in Israel? And every Jew in the world? Or do they "get a pass"?

[@abacus749]

The Artists need to turn the tables on the Galleries. Without Artists the galleries have nothing to sell to INVESTORS and Art buyers. Galleries who cancel Artists for any reason whatsoever should be BLACKLISTED by all Artists. If Artists allow their freedom of expression to be controlled by COMMERCE and its MINIONS then Art is finished.

[@Parialated]

Art is dead...it's just another investment tool for them to not pay taxes and hide wealth....

[@street_cheeks]

a lot of the bigger artists are children of big art collectors or nepo babies of which are many zionists

[@yohanag3408]

boycott those art galleries...

[@street_cheeks]

galleries like these aren't affected by anyone less than the 1% boycotting. most people dont even know the blue chip galleries anyway and these galleries dont want most people. the wealthiest ppl support them and the museums. everyone else is non existent.

[@alletsnow]

💯 Boycott: Lisson Gallery in New York and London, and the Galerie Max Hetzler in Paris and Berlin

[@catherinejames2734]

He should be proud to be cancelled in the UK. Don’t sell your soul. I’m an artist and have always said I would never exhibit in America either. There are other ways to live as an artist and keep self respect. The best artists stand for truth.

[@freedumb_3.0]

Yes, that other way is starvation.

[@enochwu9530]

Salute to you! Truth is truth! Will exist forever!

[@justjj21]

@@freedumb_3.0 Ai weiwei is rich, it's the other smaller artists that are actually being hurt

[@DiamondFlame45]

Keep up the good fight dude! It is INSANE that we are being gaslit to believe that Israel is the victim in these Gaza strikes?!

[@MarieWiseman-nq4lr]

❤

[@72marshflower15]

Hannibal Directive is borne of the Talmud.. Look it up

[@ValerieGriner]

YES...they are following the Babylonian Talmud and it is EVIL!!!!!!!@@72marshflower15

[@renakmans3521]

Some are and a lot are not!

[@georgelan9985]

Think since 1948: False Think from and on 10/7th: True Think after 10/7th: False Media: Nothing happened before or after 10/7th People: Accepted

[@bastabey2652]

“I was celebrated for the wrong reasons”

[@Parialated]

Exactly...a propaganda prop to put down Asia....and their interests and welfare

[@Ilus01]

He fully aware that he is being politically exploited by the West.

[@Cui-bono987]

❤

[@Lovescience760]

He hit the nail on the head!

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

Good that he realizes

[@dixieechann]

Great to see Ai Wei Wei still fighting against injustice

[@monipenny408]

Poor Ai, went to U$ thinking it is the land of free speech. LOL

[@street_cheeks]

@@monipenny408 hes aware and knows better. his photography has a piece in which he is flipping the bird to the White House and that was 15+ years ago

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

The only way for the Palestinians to break free of this despicable situation is if the US looses its hegemonic power, and China is the only country in the position to break it

[@deezeed2817]

He is starting to understand that free speech is illusory. The west only promotes "free speech" if it serves their agenda. The system will always rear its ugly head eventually.

[@powerpixie2965]

@@monipenny408 Weiwei is not poor. He's worth $15 million, much of it earned in the land of free speech.

[@bertbaker7067]

Stand strong, sir. Ai Weiwei sounds like a friend of the people. 🇵🇸✊

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

Yeah, but the only way for the Palestinians to break free of this despicable situation is if the US looses its hegemonic power, and China is the only country in the position to break it.

[@dayegilharno4988]

:) He's always been both an amazing artist and a decent human being.

[@a-sheepof-christ9027]

Yes ofcourse. Killing children on the 7th Oktober in a targeted fashion. Really sounds like a friend of the people. (watch how this man will stay silent or use whataboutism in whatever form to defend his position. he will not in a honest fashion admit that terrorism is simply terrorism).

[@KatharinaK117]

He's a decent Human Being, when he's on the side of Palestine here and for PEACE!

[@user-nf1zz9rq4x]

He is profiting from the same system (US) Which Send weapons to Israel to kill Palestinian.

[@anxiouscucumber9]

This man is fearless and brilliant.. one of my biggest heroes ❤

[@KatharinaK117]

He's great for sure.

[@ronniebouchar9484]

He is not fearless. He is just stupid. He doesn't know the rules of the game.

[@vancat6232]

Hero when he badmouth China, zero when he criticizes USA. LOL

[@KatharinaK117]

@@vancat6232 L O L!

[@marciamartins1992]

​@@ronniebouchar9484He learned something about the US, and showed it to all of us, so not totally stupid.

[@haruzanfuucha]

The West praised Ai Weiwei when he criticized China but now he is being cancelled by the West for criticizing Israel 😂

[@AwakenedAvocado]

Are we surprised. Look what our globalist infiltrated governments have accepted and done the last years.

[@jimmylam9846]

Maybe Ai should try Republic of Ireland which the country only has balls to stand up for injustice in the west.

[@siogbeagbideach]

Free Palestine. Best wishes from Dublin, yes he'd be very welcome here.

[@rachaelik]

Spain and Belgium as well, but not with the full-chested strength and moral clarity of Ireland.

[@siogbeagbideach]

@rachaelk.3822 and Malta, drafted a resolution which was passed by UN sec council in Nov, calling for urgent humanitarian pauses in Gaza

[@user-cs1gc5wk2r]

For reals

[@kenaikyoshi416]

Ireland, the land of the brave and free.

[@Tyrhonius]

Standing up for human rights only means criticizing China/Africa/Russia in the West.

[@Hwy-01]

“If you want to know who rules over you, simply find out who you’re not allowed to criticize”

[@Scifi4life]

North Korea. Any muslim theocracy. China. Russia.

[@philbarone4603]

@@Scifi4lifewhere’s the US in there?

[@Scifi4life]

@philbarone4603 people are protesting in United States.

[@queeniegreengrass3513]

​@@Scifi4lifeonly within those countries lol. Let's deal with our own first.

[@hd.37]

The Rothschilds

[@nbeizaie]

The reason they are afraid on a single sentence you said is because they have created a house of cards and one small wind (of change) can crumble it down. But it will crumble one way or another. We are actually in the midst of the crumbling and are witnessing it with our own eyes in a slow motion.

[@jamilahana1728]

Excellent comment my friend! A house of cards it is! 👍🙏💖🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@Chulitatr]

Over 100 Journalists' have been massacred by IDF since Oct. 7th 2023.

[@radinz1]

This is no Defence Force-More accurately IDF should be renamed IOF Israeli Occupying Force or IGF a Genocidal Force .

[@KatharinaK117]

That's terrible...even more for free speech 😢😢😢

[@johnforsyth9008]

Free Julian Assange !

[@Chulitatr]

@@johnforsyth9008 I agree. It's the us government's fault for having a weak security system.

[@hermesliteratus882]

Anyone who dares to raise this issue will either get cancelled or censured, that's the world we are living in.

[@ScottRiddleArtist]

What a great interview. What I find ironic is when this renowned artist was criticizing China everyone applauded his efforts. But how dare he turn the lens on any other government displaying questionable behavior. The hypocrisy of the art world is disgusting.

[@dogmatictales]

I’m currently reading Ai’s book 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows. He is as powerful a writer as he is an artist and advocate for justice. Thoroughly recommend!

[@sophrosyne88]

No surprise. His father was a great poet, having inspired lots of people in China.

[@dogmatictales]

@@sophrosyne88 no surprise huh

[@nwbw217]

He is not too bright about world affairs, or is at the very least easily manipulated by terrorist propaganda.

[@XW3126]

His father was a famous poet and painter.

[@dogmatictales]

@@XW3126 I know, I just read his autobiography

[@sahraluujiyano6]

Anyone who is human and tell the truth is cancel or fired what a shame

[@KatharinaK117]

Yep ..

[@saehian]

Communist laws don't allow.

[@sidrissmd]

It seems, the west gave Mr. Ai Wei a lesson in freedom of speech 😢

[@valorzinski7423]

When he criticze the CCP, all the Westerners hail him as a hero When he criticize Israel, he is now unpersoned and comsidered a N-Z

[@paulbuerton8143]

Artist with social conviction. Win Win Wei Wei.

[@thinkerOO7]

“If you would know who controls you see who you may not criticise.” - Tacitus

[@sutapasbhattacharya9471]

J's regard as profane all that we hold sacred....they permit all that we abhor. - Tacitus

[@emiliobello2538]

The documentary Ai WeiWei never sorry should have been Oscar nominated

[@ranro7371]

Ai Wei Wei was actually one of the first to speak out - On the 7th, there were no direct attacks on civilians, only collateral damage. Out of the 769 names on the Haaretz dataset, 462 were military personnel, including 55 soldiers, 13 privates, 59 corporals, 200 sergeants (45 of whom were sergeant majors), 48 commanders, 32 lieutenants, 5 lieutenant colonels, 6 colonels, 37 officers, 10 inspectors, 6 intendents, and 2 Lance Corp. This was a military defeat, and they are taking it out on the rest. On the 7th, it is crucial to understand that there were no direct attacks on civilians, only collateral damage. Out of the 1148 total names, 403 were military personnel, 59 belonged to the police, and 668 were civilians. The collateral damage on the 7th was significantly lower than any of the ITf "mowing" operations, which had a ratio of 6:1. When including all casualties, not just deaths, the collateral damage ratio of the "mowing" operations is a staggering 162:1. On the 7th, with 462 military personnel out of 1148 total, the ratio of civilians to military personnel was a mere 1.6:1, which is a hundred times lower than the 162:1 ratio of the "mowing" operations based on analyzing UN OHC data from 2008 to 2022. The reported ages of the victims are as follows: 0-4: 2 civilians 5-12: 8 civilians 13-17: 14 civilians 18-25: 132 civilians 26-40: 119 civilians 41-60: 55 civilians 61+: 40 civilians Active duty military personnel: 18-25: 258 active duty military personnel 26-40: 60 active duty military personnel 41-60: 17 active duty military personnel 61+: 1 active duty military personnel

[@dwyerjones4542]

Bullshit.

[@maccjw]

@@dwyerjones4542 Fact!

[@jamilahana1728]

Thank you for sharing these facts. Many were also killed by idf helicopters, soldiers, and tanks.

[@simplica1]

Source please

[@ranro7371]

From haaretx datasheet titled "xsraxl's Dead: The Names of Those Killed in Hxmxs Attacks, Mxssxcres and the xsrxel-Hxmxs Wxr" There is a more detailed report of of oct 7th titled "I scrapped the information about 1096 of the 1460 killed on 7th of October Attack. Children Less than 1%"

[@kathleentrinity7367]

Ai Weiwei, I salute you for your courage and for speaking truth and values. I'm so sorry your shows were cancelled. Character cannot be bought. It's priceless especially in these days when so many are afraid of speaking out.

[@robinbjorge9329]

so true, integrity is rare in the powers that shouldn’t be

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

A person not being accountable for their actions for half a life time can lead to narcissism, sociopathic and even psychopathic behavior. We have a group that has been unaccountable for 75 years

[@edna7748]

Thank you for your interview with Ai Wei Wei.

[@realtalk6195]

I have massive _respect_ for this man. To criticize both lsrael and China for their transgression and being sound on moral principles even though you may suffer from it from multiple angles takes massive _courage!_

[@lavendereucalyptus3225]

A rude awakening for Ai Wei Wei, the west ‘embraced’ his criticism against China, but DON’T you criticize the west and its geopolitical INTEREST, or you will get CANCELLED and PUNISHED! I hope Ai Wei Wei finally sees the true face of collective west governments hypocrisy.

[@lavendereucalyptus3225]

He doesn’t know better, he was a geopolitical tool for the west !

[@lavendereucalyptus3225]

YT keeps deleting my comments or not making my comment visible, so much for FOS! 🥴

[@DursunX]

​@@lavendereucalyptus3225 relax, let the servers catchup.. i can see both your comments. respectfully, i don't agree though.

[@MarieWiseman-nq4lr]

Followed you ❤😢🎉

[@Kavino]

I have been always critical of Ai Weiwei's art practice and his idea of individualism. The crisis of today's world are not about personal freedom, but rather about collective solidarity and action, in another word "class struggle". In his words, he always see the problem of western government as "cowardly" and unwilling to enforce their own values of freedom and democracy. I don't see it that way. European and American governments are not cowardly, but very calculating and deliberately practices a double standard on truth and values. He sees the western government's greed clouded their judgements. I see no such thing, domination has always been their goal and greed is but a byproduct of it. He sees hypocrisy as a moral failure, but I see it as a policy fundamentally baked into western system of governance.

[@nesso.3311]

Wei ne comprend rien à rien

[@nameberry220]

well said

[@outsidewell6932]

It’s the Freemasonry/Illuminati way or no way.

[@outsidewell6932]

It’s

[@outsidewell6932]

the Freemasonry

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

Small correction: It is not accurate to say Ai "cannot live in China" - he decided to leave and could return if he chose to. On the other hand, what he said rings true, that he was celebrated in the West for the wrong reasons and his observations on the world we live in. I would add that his position on Palestine is perfectly aligned with the PRC government position and both now face criticism in the West for this.

[@nesso.3311]

Excactly

[@lauralafauve5520]

When I was a kid I often wondered why Hitler, a mass murderer and would be world conqueror, would bother himself about things such as art, music, and film Then, when reading a book called "Remi" I had an epiphany when Remi's employer, a street performer, explains that Remi's new clothes were chosen because they were unusual for the area they were performing in, and so, would be memorable, and so be remembered. They were different, and so, eye-catching. An artist of any type generally wants people to notice and remember their work. Not so an authoritarian regime. They want people to not notice, to forget indignities and pleasures in the past which are lost in the present. The horrible thing did not happen, or wasn't as bad as all that. Pleasures and freedoms, even if experienced in the past, can't exist now. Change, other than the authoritarian's desired changes, is impossible.

[@thehangingparsiple5692]

What an excellent comment

[@moodygirl609]

We should heed Ai Weiwei's warning at the end of this intevriew. I have incredible admiration for Ai Weiwei's work and have read the memoir A 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows which lays out the history of how he's come to his art and his outspokenness on issues of humanity in China and the world.

[@marziaball5089]

And yet he is sensores by the so called free world , democracy ext we may ask democracy according to who and who’s favor . The only way some on can stand up against hypocrisy is to come under one banner “ there is no God worthy of worship except for Allah and Muhammad is his slave And his Messenger” Islam . This is thicker then fblood take it or leave it , there is no compulsion in the religion . I kindly invite you to read Quran ❤️🌷

[@derekfoust4635]

I am not surprised at all. Basically, the point is: when USA/Britain wants to use someone as a pawn as an "anti-whatever", the person would be called “like-minded, freedom loving, a hero, a human-rights activist. . .” fighting for “democracy, human rights, freedom, free speech,” etc. But if the same person holds a different position, the pawn now becomes a pariah, criminal, dictator, etc. Also, behind the scene, usually some combination of NED, CIA/MI6, Pentagon, State Dept., etc. is involved, and regime-change operation and meddling are involved, whether the pawn is aware or not. Next time some politician or geopolitical think-tank analyst uses you and calls you as a “ . . . like-minded. . .” etc, beware.

[@nesso.3311]

Wei a participé à cette politique de regime change en Chine

[@michaelhorne582]

If there was no NED/CiA nobody would have heard of this dude. MAybe his opinions and expectations (that China is authoritarian bad and the west freedom loving good) were originally planted in him by nefarious NED agents posing as do-gooders.

[@stvdmc2011]

model minority?

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Well said and explained!

[@zitoScine]

You can’t criticize your masters, Ai Wei Wei. Did you really believe you could freely speak your mind on your masters without repercussions? That’s the one constant in history-you cannot criticize those who rule you in public.

[@Elisa-mg3rc]

Welcome to the West, my friend, the pinnacle of "freedom and democracy"

[@KohalaLover]

Thank you Amy, Juan and the DN team. ✨💗

[@eng2271]

I never thought much of Ai, thought he was just a Western pawn being used against China. But at least I commend him for speaking up for the Palestinians, and against warmongering.

[@adamseini1487]

“ to learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize”.

[@Bobby0505]

They will never silence peoples humanity

[@AwakenedAvocado]

❤

[@thehangingparsiple5692]

They are working hard on it though. Pushing hatred towards immigrants; towards Russians; towards anyone 'foreign' really; towards LGBTQ people, etc etc etc. ALL are human, ALL have the same rights. But keep the people divided and fighting amongst themselves, and those on top are safe. Once we come together as a collective, we will realise there are so many more of us than there are of them ❤✌️

[@MendeMaria-ej8bf]

We must be grateful for integer artists like him.

[@simplica1]

Great final question from Amy! Ai weiwei became shocked at this late stage to realize that the West is not as free as he thought? I hope he learnt something!

[@CHIPIONES]

I am really worried about the decadence of democracy and the raise of the restrictive and forbidding control-state.

[@KlausRiede]

Fortunately control is still limited to cancelling which afterall is an efficient PR.....but this might change soon

[@johnforsyth9008]

Free Julian Assange !

[@thabom9791]

He was a critic of China and glorifying the West. He is now learning the hard truth ...

[@lorsheckmolseh3345]

This clown in the bottom of the Western reactionaries should be taken seriously by nobody.

[@azarif3581]

This guy is a real one. Recent events are an eye opener when it comes to western gouvernements and media.

[@eugenechin2863]

@azarif3581 At the end of the day whether its democracy, communism, nazism or whatever political system you believe in, they all the same. People in power always trying to brainwash the masses in believing and thinking what the elites what you to think and believe. In the end, the real war isnt between China and USA or USA v Russia, its really between the masses and the elites. Poor v Rich.

[@user-wt3bk9nl5x]

There are no clean hands in this war. Anyway I bow to Ai Wei Wei ❤ from his adoptive country Portugal.

[@passby8070]

He now understands he is loved because is a useful tool, not for his artistic talent...

[@Scandinavians]

Totally agree with you

[@OmarBenjumea]

Artists should start adding clauses to their contracts to avoid being canceled or hurt by these types of censorships.

[@thespartan8476]

"We can excuse genocide, but we draw the line at shipping delays." ~ USA ~ UK ~ Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. Yet those who do study history are doomed to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeats it.

[@shellycook3571]

Exactly

[@thehangingparsiple5692]

🎯

[@kathleenhillock9366]

Their claws reach every dark corner of the entire planet.

[@ArleeStarr]

The znists claws come FROM every dark corner to reach the enlightened areas and snuff out the light.

[@candacehill1532]

Thank you for speaking up

[@kathym6603]

Ai Weiwei, This is a real brutality against you and, like you say, against freedom of expression and human rights. Thank you for showing us your novel. 💖 You are a good spokesman for the entire human race.

[@ryang790]

BRAVE man. The people are with you sir. 🙏

[@thirstaefortae5057]

It’s disturbing how the art community has handled this issue. The Art Forum former editor in chief had invited artists to sign onto a letter calling for a ceasefire and Palestinian liberation. [He was fired for this] One of the signatories anonymously claimed it was then used by outside parties as a way to blacklist any artist who signed.

[@giovannilee2602]

Naturally the west was so totally enamored with him because of his heroic criticism of China policies and “ human rights “ situation …. However , never dare criticize them … the mighty west ( especially if u come from non European - white race ) …. Still remember when in Schizophrenic UK Russian classical music was banned from concert halls at the start of the Ukrainian proxy was 🤦🏼🤦🏼

[@BenMikha-ElYusufSunjiata]

Thank You I WeiWei. Speak Up Everyone For WHAT Is RIGHT. Where ever IS Safe for you to do So. This is one of those places. WE are not alone.

[@alexzhang22]

“I was celebrated for the wrong reason..." Oh man, that hurts! I have new found respect for Ai Weiwei now, at least he is a true artist with a pure objective.

[@melissabanoengarde]

So much respect for Ai Weiwei's integrity

[@nazarmawj338]

❤❤❤Thanks Amy for your show

[@eileenspamer]

pantomine more like

[@sianstpaul1349]

Criticism of China in the western world is politically correct, but criticism of Israel is not.

[@marciamartins1992]

Where did this law come from?

[@The.Red.Stilettos]

Please come and do the show in Malaysia. Malaysians will support him.

[@isabelval6305]

BRAVE, MR. AI WEIWEI, I LOVE YOUR HUMANITARIAN HEART. THE TRUTH WILL MAKE US FREE!!!!! THANKS FROM SPAIN. 🇪🇭🇪🇭🇪🇭🇪🇭🇪🇭🇪🇭

[@marymccluer1630]

Art is an act of exploration, and it often delves into the political. Art displayed for public viewing invites a dialog of sorts, between the artist (here is my perspective) and the viewing public (wow, that's different). For a brief moment, art can pull us out of our media bubbles and show us a different way of viewing the world. Art can evoke epiphanies.

[@truenorth2977]

Well, too bad for London - London really missed out on this one. Ai Weiwei opens minds ! Why did you close your minds, London?

[@erenyeagerist7681]

UK is nefarious. Have you forgotten what UK did to Iraq?

[@thomasjosullivan9179]

We need more men like Ai Weiwei, the hypocrisy in the west is unbelievable

[@marciamartins1992]

Love me some art❤❤❤!

[@lunellkruger2981]

Galleries cancelling one of the foremost artist in the world implies that virtually all artists whose works have political meaning would be cancelled. Utterly bizarre beyond the ridiculous.

[@marciamartins1992]

Lol ...just off the top of my head I can think of two....Picasso, Guernica and Diego Rivera' s mural.

[@lunellkruger2981]

@@marciamartins1992 We have anti-apartheid artworks in South Africa. They are also about human suffering. Insane strategy.

[@thinkbeforeyoutype7106]

What’s becoming so obvious to people now is that colonialism has never ended just rebranded with different terms. From Natives indigenous people being called “savages” in the old days to now being called “terrorist” by neocolonialists who are neoliberals, neoconservatives, and zionist. 1) Savages is now “terrorist” 2) Civilizing them is now “bringing them democracy” We can all see Israel is a colonial project being supported by former and current colonials such as U.S, and UK who also control territories of indigenous natives in Caribbean Islands, Pacific Islands, Hawaii, and many more. The liberation of Palestine will definitely give RISE to many indigenous natives around the world to free themselves from western domination. This is the underline ripple effect that the U.S government and its puppet allies don’t want to happen.

[@teatree6228]

What about julian assange? Lets talk about his torture, Amy?

[@user-gs8rn8hp5n]

Ai wei wei practicing what he preaches speaking out about all injustice.❤

[@hd7704]

Ai Weiwei got a lesson on his naïveté and ignorance about western “liberals.” He realized too late that all the flattery by western elites was not about respect for his art, but about exploiting him as a political pawn

[@Vicky_1]

Those that are cancelling others for telling the truth, should be cancelled and boycotted themselves.

[@ibrahimhasan8924]

Thanx Ai for standing on the side of Justice

[@sophrosyne88]

Great respect for Ai Wei Wei. Great art and great conscience. A noble and sensitive mind notices injustice everywhere, in China and outside of it, and just can not keep silence.

[@toastiepostie3761]

Bravo to this awesome man. Those art galleries are cowards.

[@Marcelosalasdubai]

AI Weiwei definitely understood that he was embraced by the western countries for “wrong” reasons as he said and he discovered that real reasons was against China but not for freedom.

[@nesso.3311]

After 10 years ? Mmm.

[@catinbootsnow4267]

Anybody here still remember the Turkish basketball player who changed his name to "Freedom" (Enes Kanter Freedom)? Yes he became a political sweetheart when he keeps speaking out loud for human rights of people in China, esp. the Uigher muslim people in Xinjiang. Yet he is now astonishingly quiet on the miserable situation of the Palestinian Muslims in Gaza. It seems that he is a cunning political opportunist who knows what works better for him and what doesn't work, which devalued his integrity and credibility a lot.

[@zahrahorn9185]

Well done Ai Wei Wei!! Stand up for humanity!🎉🙏🏽❤️

[@alletsnow]

A couple of galleries that have cancelled Ai Weiwei: Lisson Gallery in New York and London, and the Galerie Max Hetzler in Paris and Berlin

[@marciamartins1992]

They are officially on my 💩list.

[@186nat]

We love him

[@MzKeyz26]

Mr. Wei Wei is truly a treasure, but it’s sad to hear that he supports a platform like twitter😞

[@Miya-ub5qn]

I actually started respecting Ai Weiwei. He used to be a West tool to criticize China. Now he grew up and became truly independent. Maybe I should buy his good piece

[@nostradamus522]

A men that stand for justice, a men with principles ! ✊🏻👍🏻

[@naidavelieva723]

We need more heroes. All people speak up for justice . People shouldn’t kill people . Peace in the world for all people. Palestinian are people too . They have the right to live in their land free and happy like Jewish people too

[@waichui2988]

Welcome to the real world.

[@beatrixvantil8623]

Thank you Ai Weiwei for your honesty and courage in defending what I can still hope for in the future 🙏

[@SenzelSchaefer]

Incredibly dangerous for democracies everywhere. Don’t allow censorship to be normalized.

[@Red-jl5dq]

All artists actors and actresses must speak up yes and just take a side of you don’t take a side you are not doing anyone any good not even yourselves ,, stand with the oppressed. Free Palestine all of Palestine from the zoinest occupation.

[@gotmilk91]

There's a pityful Ai Weiwei meme out that says *"TELLS LIES ABOUT CHINA, AND THE WEST LOVES U - TELL TRUTH ABOUT ISRAEL, AND THE WEST HATES YOU"* (lol Mao)

[@dat_20]

Wow, look at the power of these powerful nations and the extent at which they Suppress freedom of speech. It's all coming out in the open now and they've always been like this. Their inhumanity and Hypocrisy has reached the sky. So an artist like Ai WeiWei is punished by his shows' cancellations because of a single tweet. Much respect to Ai WeiWei for standing up for Humanity.

[@ejeikwutheophilus7854]

So much for western democracy.

[@cartilagehead6326]

Funny how these show backers and these champions of political art were so eager to give him support and money and a platform, but only as long as he was exclusively being critical of the Chinese government (I’m not saying that criticizing China is a bad thing).