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Chinese Artist Ai Blasts ‘Inhuman’ Government
Marianne Barriaux | November 07, 2010
Beijing. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei branded his nation’s government “inhuman” on Sunday. Ai who is currently under house-arrest in Beijing, said the Internet would bring the current Communist regime to an end.
Ai, one of China’s most famous artists, who currently has an exhibition at London’s Tate Modern, says he has been confined to his home to stop him from attending a gathering at his new Shanghai studio which is due to be demolished.
“This society is not efficient, it’s inhuman in many ways politically,” said the 53-year-old, who is also a well-known social critic in China.
“The government, the whole system, sacrifices education, environmental resources and most people’s interests just to make a few people become extremely rich just because they are associated with the government.”
“This cannot last too long. This society basically has no creativity. It’s just cheap labor and very police-controlled. How long can that last?” Ai said.
Ai’s house arrest, due to last until midnight on Sunday, comes amid a widespread crackdown on dissidents, lawyers and professors after jailed writer Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last month.
While he is not allowed to leave his home, others, including news reporters, have been able to visit him.
Ai, who updates his Twitter account regularly, said the Internet was a powerful force for change that was enabling more and more people to find out what was happening in China.
“The Internet is the best gift to China. This kind of technology will end this kind of dictatorship.”
Before his house arrest, the artist had planned a feast for supporters at his Shanghai studio on Sunday as an ironic celebration of a decision by authorities to demolish the building, despite having originally asked him to build it.
Marianne Barriaux | November 07, 2010
Beijing. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei branded his nation’s government “inhuman” on Sunday. Ai who is currently under house-arrest in Beijing, said the Internet would bring the current Communist regime to an end.
Ai, one of China’s most famous artists, who currently has an exhibition at London’s Tate Modern, says he has been confined to his home to stop him from attending a gathering at his new Shanghai studio which is due to be demolished.
“This society is not efficient, it’s inhuman in many ways politically,” said the 53-year-old, who is also a well-known social critic in China.
“The government, the whole system, sacrifices education, environmental resources and most people’s interests just to make a few people become extremely rich just because they are associated with the government.”
“This cannot last too long. This society basically has no creativity. It’s just cheap labor and very police-controlled. How long can that last?” Ai said.
Ai’s house arrest, due to last until midnight on Sunday, comes amid a widespread crackdown on dissidents, lawyers and professors after jailed writer Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last month.
While he is not allowed to leave his home, others, including news reporters, have been able to visit him.
Ai, who updates his Twitter account regularly, said the Internet was a powerful force for change that was enabling more and more people to find out what was happening in China.
“The Internet is the best gift to China. This kind of technology will end this kind of dictatorship.”
Before his house arrest, the artist had planned a feast for supporters at his Shanghai studio on Sunday as an ironic celebration of a decision by authorities to demolish the building, despite having originally asked him to build it.
