Ai Weiwei on returning to China after 12 years, reveals that despite having been in detention for over a decade and facing threats from the Chinese state, he was not scared of going back home. The artist's thoughts on censorship, AI, western society, and his relationship with his mother played a significant role in this decision.
Ai Weiwei stated that the experience during which his captors said "When you come out, your son won't recognize you" weighed heavily on him but added, "People said 'Are you scared?' I said 'No, why should I be scared?' I'm Chinese. I have a Chinese passport. I'm entitled to go back and see my mum." This statement indicates his unwavering commitment to family ties.
During the trip, Ai described it as like "a phone call suddenly reconnecting" or "a piece of jade broken that you can put back together because it matches very well. Everything's so familiar: the light, the temperature, the people." The artist is clearly relieved and grateful for the return home, showing how being back in China has helped him reunite with his mother.
Ai Weiwei's upcoming book "On Censorship" presents a strong argument against western perceptions of censorship. He states that those who claim to be the champions of freedom will often engage in covert, deceptive, and corrosive practices that can silence the voices of others. This stands as an interesting perspective on how different countries view these issues differently.
In discussing his relationship with the AfD leader Alice Weidel, Ai revealed he did not find her anti-immigrant stance objectionable but instead said "Some states don't even accept one [immigrant] and Germany accepts 1.2 million, which is a pretty generous decision." This highlights how AI tries to separate ideologies that may be seen as far-right.
Ai's views on China have changed over time; the nation has made significant technological advancements while increasing personal freedoms. In contrast, he argues that western societies are struggling with finding their own logic and values.
Regarding his recent experience at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Ai shared how a tweet about the Jewish community was deleted after accusations of antisemitism. He expressed his confusion over why such an incident caused trouble. The artist explained to me that "Plurality of voices, tolerance and free thinking are at the core of what we stand for and seek to protect" but believes that these same values can sometimes be used as a tool to silence voices.
Ai's final thoughts on the current state of humanity were poignant; he expressed his hope that people could find beauty in art if they lived during times like the Tang dynasty, which seems more achievable than it does today.
Ai Weiwei stated that the experience during which his captors said "When you come out, your son won't recognize you" weighed heavily on him but added, "People said 'Are you scared?' I said 'No, why should I be scared?' I'm Chinese. I have a Chinese passport. I'm entitled to go back and see my mum." This statement indicates his unwavering commitment to family ties.
During the trip, Ai described it as like "a phone call suddenly reconnecting" or "a piece of jade broken that you can put back together because it matches very well. Everything's so familiar: the light, the temperature, the people." The artist is clearly relieved and grateful for the return home, showing how being back in China has helped him reunite with his mother.
Ai Weiwei's upcoming book "On Censorship" presents a strong argument against western perceptions of censorship. He states that those who claim to be the champions of freedom will often engage in covert, deceptive, and corrosive practices that can silence the voices of others. This stands as an interesting perspective on how different countries view these issues differently.
In discussing his relationship with the AfD leader Alice Weidel, Ai revealed he did not find her anti-immigrant stance objectionable but instead said "Some states don't even accept one [immigrant] and Germany accepts 1.2 million, which is a pretty generous decision." This highlights how AI tries to separate ideologies that may be seen as far-right.
Ai's views on China have changed over time; the nation has made significant technological advancements while increasing personal freedoms. In contrast, he argues that western societies are struggling with finding their own logic and values.
Regarding his recent experience at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Ai shared how a tweet about the Jewish community was deleted after accusations of antisemitism. He expressed his confusion over why such an incident caused trouble. The artist explained to me that "Plurality of voices, tolerance and free thinking are at the core of what we stand for and seek to protect" but believes that these same values can sometimes be used as a tool to silence voices.
Ai's final thoughts on the current state of humanity were poignant; he expressed his hope that people could find beauty in art if they lived during times like the Tang dynasty, which seems more achievable than it does today.
. I mean he talks about his mom and how happy he is to see her again, but at the same time he's got some super sharp thoughts on censorship and western societies... like AI can be a tool for good or bad, right? 
. what's wild is how he separates the AfD leader Alice Weidel's views on immigration from his own... it makes me wonder about our own borders and who we let in 
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. He said "I'm Chinese. I have a Chinese passport. I'm entitled to go back and see my mum" - that shows how much family means to him 
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. His experience in China made him realize how different our perspectives on censorship are 
. He argues that some countries might be pretending to be champions of freedom but actually suppressing voices. That's a valid point IMHO 
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. It's cool that he's trying to understand different perspectives and not judge them based on ideologies alone 
. He thinks western societies are struggling with finding their own values and logic 
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. His hope that people can find beauty in art during tough times is something we could all learn from 
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And that quote about not being scared because he's Chinese and has a passport... it's almost like a commentary on how nationality can be both a blessing and a curse.
But what struck me most was his comment about Germany accepting 1.2 million immigrants... it's a reminder that even the most seemingly rigid societies have their own complexities and nuances.
. But on the other hand, I do wonder if he's trying to send a message about how Western societies are often quick to judge China without really understanding their perspective 
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. And what about all the people who are still struggling with freedom in China? Does he really think they're going to suddenly start being treated better just because he's back 
. I don’t know, man...I feel like that's just a pretty convenient way of explaining away our own hypocrisy 
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. But it's also kinda complicated, you know?
. He's got this super calm demeanor about it, like "yeah, I was in detention, but life goes on" 
. He's got this idea that some people are just as bad at being "free" as the ones who try to silence others 
. And can we talk about his take on China vs Western societies for a sec? I mean, he's right that China has made some huge strides in tech and personal freedoms 
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. He's like "yeah, the AfD leader said something dumb, but let's focus on the bigger picture" 
. Like, I'm totally with him on finding beauty in unexpected places 
Ai Weiwei is straight up returning to China after 12 years and I'm not sure what's more concerning, his decision or how much things have actually changed for him 
Like, what even is he gonna find when he gets back to China? The same censorship he was complaining about before? 
I'm really touched by Ai Weiwei's courage and commitment to family after being away for 12 years. It shows how much love and connection he has with his mother, even from a distance. 
His decision to return home must have been incredibly emotional for him, and it's beautiful that he's found peace in reconnecting with his roots. 
Sending all my positive vibes to Ai Weiwei and his loved ones! 
... thought i was scared to return but turns out i just wanna know what's cookin' in my own country 
. I think this highlights the importance of critically evaluating our own biases and values, rather than just assuming we're always right 
It feels like Ai Weiwei is trying to say that we need to protect free speech, but also be careful not to use it as a way to silence people.
. Ai's right that western societies are struggling with finding their own logic and values, its like they're stuck in a cycle of hypocrisy