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Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor lead London walk of compassion for refugees Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor lead London walk of compassion for refugees
(about 2 hours later)
The artists Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor joined hands as they strode down London’s Piccadilly at the beginning of an eight-mile walk to show solidarity with refugees around the world.The artists Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor joined hands as they strode down London’s Piccadilly at the beginning of an eight-mile walk to show solidarity with refugees around the world.
“This is a walk of compassion, a walk together as if we were walking to the studio,” Kapoor said. “Peaceful. Quiet. Creative.”“This is a walk of compassion, a walk together as if we were walking to the studio,” Kapoor said. “Peaceful. Quiet. Creative.”
A chilly grey morning turned into a pleasant autumn day as the sun came out at 9.55am, five minutes before the pair set off from the Royal Academy of Arts joined by around 100 kindred spirits – and probably as many journalists.A chilly grey morning turned into a pleasant autumn day as the sun came out at 9.55am, five minutes before the pair set off from the Royal Academy of Arts joined by around 100 kindred spirits – and probably as many journalists.
The artists hope that by the time they reach their destination, Kapoor’s Orbit in the Olympic park at Stratford, many more people will have joined them.The artists hope that by the time they reach their destination, Kapoor’s Orbit in the Olympic park at Stratford, many more people will have joined them.
It was easy to join, said Kapoor. “It is an act of solidarity and minimal action – we like that spirit.”It was easy to join, said Kapoor. “It is an act of solidarity and minimal action – we like that spirit.”
Ai, who has a show at the Royal Academy opening to the public on Saturday, said the walk was not a one-off and they would repeat it in other cities for as long was necessary.Ai, who has a show at the Royal Academy opening to the public on Saturday, said the walk was not a one-off and they would repeat it in other cities for as long was necessary.
“We are artists, we are part of the whole situation,” he said. “This problem has such a long history, a human history. We are all refugees somehow, somewhere and at some moment.”“We are artists, we are part of the whole situation,” he said. “This problem has such a long history, a human history. We are all refugees somehow, somewhere and at some moment.”
Kapoor said the walk was a creative act. “We are demanding creativity of others, recognising that those who leave their country and go on a journey across the water full of danger or who walk hundreds of miles across land are also making a creative act.Kapoor said the walk was a creative act. “We are demanding creativity of others, recognising that those who leave their country and go on a journey across the water full of danger or who walk hundreds of miles across land are also making a creative act.
“It is important that artists are not outside the equation, we don’t stand on the sidelines. Artists are part of the story of a response, we cannot stand aside and let others make the response.”“It is important that artists are not outside the equation, we don’t stand on the sidelines. Artists are part of the story of a response, we cannot stand aside and let others make the response.”
Apart from Germany opening its doors, the whole story had been overwhelmingly negative, he said. “We are trying to do positive action: by opening a certain spirit, a certain poetic space, we can at least hope to change how we think about the problem.”Apart from Germany opening its doors, the whole story had been overwhelmingly negative, he said. “We are trying to do positive action: by opening a certain spirit, a certain poetic space, we can at least hope to change how we think about the problem.”
Ai added: “Let us show the world we are involved.”Ai added: “Let us show the world we are involved.”
The walk was due to take in Whitehall and St Paul’s, heading east to Brick Lane and Mile End Road.The walk was due to take in Whitehall and St Paul’s, heading east to Brick Lane and Mile End Road.
Aylar Farrokhzad and Matilda Ellis, two London students, were among the early joiners. “It is such a good cause and it is the little things that can sometimes be really powerful,” said Farrokhzad. “You look at the news and then you look at how you’re living.”Aylar Farrokhzad and Matilda Ellis, two London students, were among the early joiners. “It is such a good cause and it is the little things that can sometimes be really powerful,” said Farrokhzad. “You look at the news and then you look at how you’re living.”
Ellis said it was a simple but positive thing to do. “It seems so distant, you watch it on the news and it is hard to get it to relate to yourself, so this brings it to the front of people’s lives.”Ellis said it was a simple but positive thing to do. “It seems so distant, you watch it on the news and it is hard to get it to relate to yourself, so this brings it to the front of people’s lives.”
Eliza Bonham Carter, curator of the Royal Academy Schools, was also on the walk. “We all need to pay attention to what those people who are on the move are facing,” she said. “It is very easy for us to lie in our comfy beds and forget about it. We need to remember what they are going through.Eliza Bonham Carter, curator of the Royal Academy Schools, was also on the walk. “We all need to pay attention to what those people who are on the move are facing,” she said. “It is very easy for us to lie in our comfy beds and forget about it. We need to remember what they are going through.
“I woke up this morning realising how incredibly gorgeous my bed was. So many people are waking up, or probably not having slept, on the streets.”“I woke up this morning realising how incredibly gorgeous my bed was. So many people are waking up, or probably not having slept, on the streets.”
Can events like this do any good? “It can’t do any harm,” Bonham Carter said. “The more we show our support, the more the government might understand that people have very wide views about migration and immigration.”Can events like this do any good? “It can’t do any harm,” Bonham Carter said. “The more we show our support, the more the government might understand that people have very wide views about migration and immigration.”
The walk finished at 1.30pm with Ai and Kapoor leading around 150 people to Kapoor’s Orbit - the UK’s largest piece of public art - in the Olympic park at Stratford.