Ai Weiwei discusses censorship and his new book

Artist Ai Weiwei discusses the nature of censorship in connection with the release of his new book, ‘On Censorship’. He describes censorship as an omnipresent force similar to gravity, asserting that it exists within any ideological system, whether communist, capitalist, or democratic, whenever a prevailing opinion is challenged.

Weiwei reflects on his personal history with censorship, noting that he first experienced it through his father, a poet who was sent to a labor camp for being a ‘rightist’. The artist, who was detained in Beijing for 81 days in 2011 for criticizing the Chinese government, currently resides between Berlin, Cambridge, and Portugal. In his interview, he also touches upon his views regarding German politician Alice Weidel, noting an appreciation for her passion.