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| Ai Weiwei tells of his lack of support from British government | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The artist Ai Weiwei has talked about the support he received from foreign governments during his troubles with the Chinese authorities, with one notable exception: the British. | The artist Ai Weiwei has talked about the support he received from foreign governments during his troubles with the Chinese authorities, with one notable exception: the British. |
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| Ai was unable to leave his home country for four years until he was finally given his passport back in July. That meant he could visit London where the Royal Academy of Arts will next week open the first major show of his work staged by a major British institution. | Ai was unable to leave his home country for four years until he was finally given his passport back in July. That meant he could visit London where the Royal Academy of Arts will next week open the first major show of his work staged by a major British institution. |
| But the British authorities initially refused to give Ai a normal business visa, a decision quickly reversed by the home secretary, Theresa May. | But the British authorities initially refused to give Ai a normal business visa, a decision quickly reversed by the home secretary, Theresa May. |
| At a press conference ahead of his RA show, Ai was asked whether he thought the first decision was a mistake, or a deliberate act so as not to upset the Chinese authorities. | At a press conference ahead of his RA show, Ai was asked whether he thought the first decision was a mistake, or a deliberate act so as not to upset the Chinese authorities. |
| “I cannot say that, it is not my position to say that,” he said. But Ai talked about the support he received over the last four years since he was detained for 81 days in 2011 during a crackdown on political activists. | |
| Related: Royal Academy turns to crowdfunding to bring Ai Weiwei's trees to London | Related: Royal Academy turns to crowdfunding to bring Ai Weiwei's trees to London |
| “I met all the ambassadors in Beijing, from US, Germany – Germany, we have very frequent contacts, like monthly – and Canada, Australia, even the French once, but I never met a British ambassador. | “I met all the ambassadors in Beijing, from US, Germany – Germany, we have very frequent contacts, like monthly – and Canada, Australia, even the French once, but I never met a British ambassador. |
| “I think they are quite [averse] to touch the issues relating to anything which would disturb, actually. They should have a voice in matters because this is a fundamental value ... It is the value of a civil society, that’s why a society becomes healthy. By doing that [ignoring him] it shows a distrust in those values, I do not think it shows respect to the Chinese people.” | “I think they are quite [averse] to touch the issues relating to anything which would disturb, actually. They should have a voice in matters because this is a fundamental value ... It is the value of a civil society, that’s why a society becomes healthy. By doing that [ignoring him] it shows a distrust in those values, I do not think it shows respect to the Chinese people.” |
| Ai said his only conversation with the British ambassador was when he was at the airport waiting to fly to Munich. “I did have a clear discussion with the ambassador at 8am, I could see she was in a hurry to call me ... I could not convince her,” he said. | |
| The reason for refusing the visa was that Ai had not declared his “criminal conviction” on his application form – a reference to his incarceration in 2011 when he was, in fact, never charged. | |
| May later personally intervened and sent him a letter “apologising for the inconvenience caused”. | May later personally intervened and sent him a letter “apologising for the inconvenience caused”. |
| Related: Ai Weiwei given extended visa to visit Britain after Theresa May intervenes | Related: Ai Weiwei given extended visa to visit Britain after Theresa May intervenes |
| In Germany, Ai has a work permit and a four-year visa and plans to split his time between Beijing and Berlin, where he has a contract to teach at the university. | |
| Asked about the refugee crisis in Europe at the moment, the artist said he felt “very proud of Germany” for its “very civilised” response. “I believe British people also have a very strong connection to that.” | Asked about the refugee crisis in Europe at the moment, the artist said he felt “very proud of Germany” for its “very civilised” response. “I believe British people also have a very strong connection to that.” |
| Ai urged the British government to do more to help refugees. “It’s a really urgent situation but not short-term, it’s going to be lasting for a very long time and takes global effort from different nations. | Ai urged the British government to do more to help refugees. “It’s a really urgent situation but not short-term, it’s going to be lasting for a very long time and takes global effort from different nations. |
| “I think the western countries have to come up with some sort of decision to help each other and get a better, more sound way to deal with the situation. I believe British people also have very strong compassion and I think the government should take a better position on that,” he said. | |
| The RA show will include major works from 1993 onwards, the year the artist returned to China after more than a decade living in the US. | |
| • Ai Weiwei at the Royal Academy of Arts, 19 September-13 December | |