Artist Ai Weiwei said political censorship in Western countries today is “exactly the same” as in China under Mao Zedong.
The 66-year-old told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “Society has become very timid and really avoids any kind of question or discussion.”
He was responding to a question about his November exhibition at London’s Lisson Gallery being canceled following social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
“I grew up under this strict political censorship,” Weiwei said of being expelled by her family when she was one year old.
“I just realized that you are doing the exact same thing in the Western world today,” the activist and documentarian added.
Weiwei criticized the suspension of two New York University professors for comments related to Gaza, saying, “This is really like a cultural revolution, where people don’t even have a clear opinion and have different attitudes.” They are really trying to destroy the people who have them.
“So I think it’s very unfortunate that something like this has happened so widely in the Western world, in universities, in the media, everywhere.
“You can’t talk about the truth in universities, in political departments, anywhere.”
Weiwei’s art often deals with political issues in China, and the artist has a history of publicly criticizing Beijing’s stance on human rights and democracy.
Asked whether he thought Western artists were doing enough to protect freedom of expression, Weiwei said they were “corrupted by capitalism.”
“They don’t just want money, they just want to be famous,” he added.
In 2011, the artist was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport and detained for 81 days. He left China in 2015 and has not returned since.
Weiwei said she “never regrets” speaking out.
He said: “I stand for values that benefit and benefit everyone.”
“My lack of experience is not so important, but rather I have to raise my voice to some extent,” Weiwei added.
“Artists have a responsibility to do that.”
Weiwei’s graphic memoir Zodiac was published by Penguin Random House in late January.
