"Ai Weiwei states, 'The Biennale shouldn't make value judgments about who to show or not show. That's not their job. They should grant equal rights to everyone, regardless of their political or social positions. That's what we call freedom of speech. Otherwise, it's censorship.'"
"He emphasizes, 'I believe we must protect the value of freedom of speech. Without it, I think we allow society to become dumb and stupid.'"
Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist and activist, opposes censorship and advocates for freedom of expression. Living in exile, he faced persecution from his government. In 2023, his exhibition was canceled after he criticized Israel's actions in Gaza. He argues that censorship transcends borders and affects all political systems. During a recent exhibition opening, he commented on the Venice Biennale's exclusion of Russia and Israel, asserting that the event should not make value judgments and must uphold freedom of speech to prevent societal ignorance.
Read at english.elpais.com
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