My political activism is helping efforts to change China, says artist Ai Weiwei
Dissident artist Ai Weiwei said he believes his activism is helping to change China and the price he has paid for speaking out was worth it.
Ai, in Melbourne for a new exhibition of his work at the National Gallery of Victoria, with human rights and politics at its core, said on Thursday someone had to make a sacrifice and take a stand against injustice.
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“Freedom of speech or human rights is never something you can grant for free,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“It takes somebody to sacrifice, to make the effort. Yes, I have suffered and many people are continuously suffering. My lawyer is still in jail after a year-and-a-half. And many, many people are still in jail.”
I care about human rights and freedom of speech. And I think that strongly protects the very essential meaning of art
Ai, China's most prominent contemporary artist, was detained in 2011 for 81 days over his advocacy of democracy and human rights as well as other criticisms of the government in Beijing.
