Release
Ai Weiwei
- join Guggenheim’s petition!
To the world’s art circles,
I’ll summon you to join Guggenheim’s petition
to protest against the arrest of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. We can put a
poignant and impressive statement if the art circles of the world make common
effort demanding the release of Ai Weiwei.
Please further this request.
Best regards,
Jens Galschiot, sculptor, Denmark, 12 April 2011
Link
to Guggenheim’s petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/call-for-the-release-of-ai-weiwei#?opt_new=f&opt_fb=t
This press
release can be downloaded at http://www.aidoh.dk/Ai-Weiwei
Statement
by Jens Galschiot, 8 April 2011
Release Ai
Weiwei!
On Sunday 3rd April the renowned artist Ai
Weiwei was arrested by Chinese police. Attempts to contact the artist have been in vain and
the Chinese authorities deny any comment on the issue. Allegedly some sort of
financial crime is the core of the issue. This accusation is dubious and can be
used for anything.
Danish artist Jens Galschiot has on two occasions been
denied entry to Hong Kong as
a result of his artistic commitment in co-operation with the Democracy
Movement. He has a permanent ban for entering China. On the occasion of Ai
Weiwei’s arrest he declares:
“I energetically condemn the arrest of Ai Weiwei.
He is one of the world’s most prominent artists, he makes outstanding
artworks, and lately he has made a comprehensive exhibition at Tate Modern. All
these activities highlight the fact that China has become an important part of
the international art scene. Ai Weiwei stands as a prominent representative of
the Chinese people, promising for the future.
I am deeply concerned that China now once again has
displayed its totalitarian face to the world and once again has committed an encroachment on its
own citizens. This shameful act reveals that China still has a long way to go
before it can be regarded a state based on the rule of law protecting its
citizens against arbitrary abuse of power.
I urge all artists of the world to express their
protest against the detention of Ai Weiwei. The Guggenheim museum has launched a petition.
Visit the homepage and join the petition.
Likewise I request the Danish government and all
democratic governments
to condemn the arrest. This abuse should not go unheeded, especially as China
has become one of the most important trading partners of the West. Therefore we
have a special obligation to express our concern.
In particular I summon the governments of Hong Kong
and Taiwan
to protest. These two
entities with Chinese population enjoying free speech have a special obligation
to express their disapproval of an infringement committed by Mainland China.
Maybe the Chinese government will be more sensitive to criticism from their own
compatriots”, Jens Galschiot concludes.
General INFO
Guggenheim’s petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/call-for-the-release-of-ai-weiwei#?opt_new=f&opt_fb=t
The artist has uploaded comprehensive documentation about China on his homepage, see
http://www.aidoh.dk/China-activities
About the detention, see
Contact/info/photos on Jens Galschiot: www.aidoh.dk, e-mail aidoh@aidoh.dk
Tel. +45 6618 4058, mobile +45 4044
7058
www.facebook.com/galschiot.official
and http://www.twitter.com/galschiot
Newsletter: subscribe at aidoh@aidoh.dk