Jottings from the Granite Studio

In a fascinating interview in the Australian newspaper The Age, Beijing-based artist Ai Wei Wei gives his own take on modern Chinese history:

“It is very important to understand China that you know very soon after 1949, even before the Communists had total control, because of the severity of the problems facing China (what Mao called the ‘three mountains’ on China’s back of feudalism, imperialism and bureaucracy) they developed into a totalitarian state that could not tolerate dissent.” He says the party is like the Mafia, its only purpose being to protect and maintain its power.

Ai says the Chinese Communist Party gutted any remaining ideological basis for being.

“The goal of the CCP was to overthrow private property, but every one of the 70 million members of the party today raise their hands at one moment to announce their lives will be sacrificed to end capitalism. This is the biggest lie and if you have 70 million professional liars who are controlling the whole nation … it’s a madhouse.

“Why can’t you clearly speak out and talk about historical events — what’s wrong with you? Why are you (the party) so timid and scared to have debate?”

Ai has become as well-known in China for his controversial statements on the Olympics, politics, and recent events as he has for his art.

One of Ai’s most famous pieces also took history as inspiration. “Breaking of Two Kangxi Blue and White Vases,” was a performance piece in which Ai broke two antique vases symbolizing the thoughtless destruction of historical artifacts by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution.

Good profile and well-worth checking out.