Laura Flanders & Friends | Ai Weiwei: Why is “Power so afraid of art and poets?” @LauraFlandersAndFriends | Uploaded August 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
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In his graphic memoir "Zodiac", the renowned artist Ai Weiwei writes that “Artists should ‘ignite stories, fight for freedom and help us hope.’” In this segment from our 2024 episode "Ai Weiwei: How Do We Save Our Humanity?", Ai Weiwei and Laura Flanders examine why those in power often feel threatened by art. How do art and poetry as means of activism speak out against governments and cultural and societal norms that have contributed to inequality and the rise of authoritarianism?

Find out more below and watch the full episode here: youtu.be/-EXbTMZopyk

In his recent graphic memoir “ZODIAC: A Graphic Memoir”, the renowned artist Ai Weiwei writes that artists should “ignite stories”, “fight for freedom” and “help us hope.” Over his long and defiant career, he has used his art in a wide variety of media to do just that. His past works such as "Sunflower Seeds" and "Remembering" confronted issues of censorship and human rights abuses in China; in a recent show in London, he asked questions of an AI Chatbot for his project “Ai vs AI”, including “Is there hope for peace?” Earlier this year, he faced criticism for his expressions of support for Palestinian rights and had a show in London canceled. In this wide-ranging conversation with Laura Flanders, they discuss the role of the artist and ask why is “Power so afraid of art and poets?” As attacks on free speech, surveillance and displacement continue to impact so many of us, how do we keep the doors of our minds open to possibility? And how can art and artists help lead transformation? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on asking questions.

“I'm not this kind of very active activist. I'm just being forced to act . . . But I'm proud of doing that because that is the meaning of life, to give dignity to life itself . . .” - Ai Weiwei

“The real fear for me is [if] we lost [the] ability to ask the question. We lost our memory, we lost our sense of caring compassion . . .” - Ai Weiwei

Guest:
Ai Weiwei: Conceptual Artist, Filmmaker & Human Rights Activist; Author, ZODIAC, A Graphic Memoir

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Executive Producer: Laura Flanders
Supervising Producer: Sabrina Artel
Senior Consulting Producer: Rory O’Connor
Consulting Producer: Jordan Flaherty
Senior Video Editor: David Neumann
Creative Designer & Video Editor: Nat Needham
Audio Director: Jeannie Hopper
Development Director: Sarah Miller
Communications Director: Janet Hernandez
Executive Assistant: Nady Piña

Thumbnail via "Cockroach" (2020) by Ai Weiwei Films.