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.

  • skozzii@lemmy.ca
    146·
    9 months ago

    If that’s the case then he should have no issue discussing Tianamen Square?

    • deft@lemmy.wtf
      4·
      9 months ago

      you’re going to get that one moron who claims that event was some bullshit failed color revolution

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
      716·
      9 months ago

      As much as an issue as saying that Hamas didn’t commit any rape on Oct7 which is factually true.

        • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
          44·
          9 months ago

          Yes. In fact multiple of my posts in the past from MondoWeiss and The Grayzone debunking many of the initial rape accusations even on Lemmy have been removed by mods for supposedly being “propaganda”.

          All while allowing multiple posts from Zionist outlets such as New York Times filled with propaganda to manufacture consent for Genocide were allowed the front page. Of course, all without a shred of evidence.

          Even the mods here are very complicit in censorship for israel and they still are removing many Pro-Palestinian media and even from NGO’s such as EuroMed-Monitor without any credible reason.

          Now four months into the Genocide everyone is starting to realize that the rape accusations were completely false it was manufactured consent all along.