The following interview with Ai Wei Wei was conducted in April 12, 2010 by inmediahk.net and AJ.hk. In the interview Ai talked about his activism regarding the Sichuan Earthquake, his comments on Hong Kong democratic movement and Internet culture. The Subtitle is translated into English by Florence Lai.

Part One

Part Two

Part One

Q: We are a self-run online radio called AJ.hk. We know that it is an invaluable opportunity,that is why we would like to talk to you...

Ai: Sure, please.

Q: We notice that you are very concern with the issues of the earthquake. Because we are also users of Twitter (Twitterers), we see you are posting and updating their (the victim’s) names on Twitter everyday, we know that you really care about the issue and persist over it. What motivates you to do this?

Ai: To me, China in the past few decades...are covering up some fundamental facts that have happened. Then what’s the worst case...when the government has no trust on the people. That is, at the same time, another problem. Saying: “This is not important, they are just numbers”, 5000 death toll? 10000 death toll? 100000 death toll? They are just numbers. So, in fact, this totalitarian government...it is denying the right for people to have their own details of life. Their emotions, their identity, their relatives, their faces…no...none of these. They are just a numbers....

The fact is, Chinese are like this, lacking a sincere, or earnest kind of observation to what is happening in the world? In the earthquake, and the surrounding, those who died are…all very young...from 3 to 19 of age. They are all single child...and their parents have been putting all their strength and hope in them in their journey of growing up. Suddenly, all gone. All the lives gone is owing to the problem with the architecture...very obvious,  is the problem with the architecture. But what has made the government covering up. I think this is where the problem lies.

Certainly I have been to the earthquake area, I saw those people….and their miserable situation. So I think, it’s no use only criticizing, but not doing something concrete. When you clearly know who is that boy and his name. How old he is, where he studies, in which class. How did the building collapse? How many students were there in the classroom? Who were their parents?

For that, we started to put things into action. It was very hard in the beginning. First, the government was reluctant to provide information, and told us, “You are not going to do this. You must have some other motives behind. Are there any anti-China forces behind? Is it this?….or that?...foreign spy….state secret…” I find it funny. Then we started doing it ourselves. We launched a campaign on the internet, calling citizens to investigate. Many people helped and encountered a lot of difficulties. Because no one knew what would happen to them. For going into the most marginal areas …

The one who went into the village to interview would often grasped by the police afterwards. The police would tear apart the name list of the victims they have put together, and delete their interview recording, and confiscate their photos. Once and again, we were being caught more than 30 times. In the end, we still managed to find more than 5200 names of the victims. This what we have done is not just a respect to the deceased, but also to tell people how to take action, how to get a thing done, even if it seems tiny....

Go on, it’s okay, make it clearer.

Q: Do you think the country owes them?

Ai: I think so, the country… not them alone, but a lot more others. The country has totally forgotten under what circumstances, they have been ….by some people...where does their power come from? Then, the basic message to everyone…. this kind of blockage(of information), and the blockage of the news are taking away the right to act of a civil citizen....when a person cannot get hold of the whole picture of the message (information flow), their behavior can merely be an accordance respond, which is problematic and we all know who would do that (limiting access of information to the people). We can see, North Korea is doing that, Iran is doing that, Cuba is doing that and China is doing that. Why doing that? Very simple, to keep things in order? To keep the political establishment stable. The stability of the political party is where their interest lies. They have sacrificed the right to information and the right to act for a generation, or even generations, just for their own interests. This kind of government is certainly a sinful government. So I am doing something very simple.

Q: What gives you the courage?

Ai: Courage is….I think….courage is originated from...an understanding to life as a person. Because life is a very….thing. Life is a gift. It is not what we fought for...we have accepted life ever since we were born. Then we use our whole life to protect this dignity. This is what everyone of us should do. If we are not doing this, how can we face ourselves. Life alone is itself our biggest wealth. Don’t say this is the grace from your parents. It is a miracle itself. If we cannot even do this (protect our dignity), then it would be problematic to live as a human. No matter how knowledgeable you are, or how wealthy you are. If you cannot make basic effort to protect your dignity, that is….. what our strength allowed . Then it would be a very big problem.

Q: I have seen many of your works, e.g the Great Wall that composed of schoolbags. What is the inspiration behind your work?

Ai: I don’t have a lot of inspiration when I create my work. I mean, what kind of media/language can communicate, then make use of that to pass the message to others and let others feel the magic of the language. Before  going into details of what have happened...ah, it actually has a story like this, then what this story is expressing... what kind of sentiment? I think this is a very simple thing.

Q: What is your plan for the Earthquake memorial day?

Ai: I don’t have any plan. Everyone is saying: what are you guys doing on 12 May, I say: to me, everyday is 12 May. Because the kids are dead. Their pain, and their parents...don’t know how to get through 12 May. When at night, you feel that you kids are not coming back home for dinner, every day is 12 May, isn’t it?

Q: In fact, there are a lot of (your) supporters in Hong Kong, let make use of this chance. What would you say to Hong Kong people? Because Hong Kong is now under a difficult condition...

Ai: I think… what Hong Kong has achieved today is never easy. It is a society with democracy, a place relatively with more freedom. Of course, now we always say, there’s much political influence from the mainland, but I think this is still an opportunity. Because one may not always have a chance like this, you can go…to understand more if you have a chance. And what kind of government...and what kind of people are living in different conditions, what to do to help them...that is to put your personal ability on trail. And your…a kind of your (human) quality, to emerge at an occasion. Young people in Hong Kong have this opportunity, then all should cherish this condition and do something for the others, I think that is quite good. Because a lot of people do not have that capacity, right?

Q: We want to have a referendum, what do you think about it?

Ai: That is great! I think…I think this is something to be persist with...because you cannot let others take away your right, isn’t it? That is a right by birth. No matter what others say, that’s no use. That’s a persistence, a very simple belief. That is to say, one person one vote, referendum.

Q: Have you any plan to come for an exhibition?

Ai: Last time, it was not easy in Japan, because Hong Kong does not have a very active culture. That’s not too active, I think...perhaps young people really need to stand up. Because Hong Kong, as a lively port city is relatively weak in culture. So I think that is your own problem

Q: How about publication?

Ai: Publication… well, I think after the emergence of the internet...publication…is still needed. But this autumn, I will receive a prize. I made an English version of a book on the collections from my blog.

Q: Then… what time?

Ai: This autumn...

Q: Oh, we are looking forward.

Ai: Right, is an English version...

Q: You must come to sign (the books) for us....

Ai: Sure.

Q: We are all your (fans)…

Ai: good, good....

Part 2

Q: Any more questions? I wish I were fans of you guys. That means you guys do more, I do less...no, no, no, it’s true.

Ai: Seeing how the China’s Meng Bo describes you...has in fact stimulated a lot of thoughts in us. We wish more Chinese, or Hong Kong people will follow your steps together, we walk a little warmer, a little cozier. You can see from Twitter, it is not just about the babies from the past. It’s about all the people who push an issue. He will also Re-Tweet...what I see is hardly seen in chat and Twitter circles. I see you are treating everyone with respect....

Ai: This is what we should do, I think that the others are just the same with me. But we have different opportunities, different fortune...right, maybe one day, they will be far better than I do. I think that would be the best because when everyone cares, the society will care. It’s no use with only one or two voicing out. We are not a generation that needs heroes, we need everyone with the possibility to (do something).

Q: Would you like people in Hong Kong help spreading (what you do)?

Ai: Sure, and that is good. I have started spreading in the beginning.

Q: I disguise your name in alien language...

Q: We know you have a MicroBlog in Sina.... a new move, isn’t it?

Ai: No, not anymore now.

Q: We still remember that night you registered with more than 70 accounts...

Ai: That’s fun.

Q: What aim did you have in mind?

Ai: To disrupt the rules, to break order. I think only by disrupting the order that the public can create possibilities. Young people can have possibilities because the rules and conventions are established for the people in power. The establishment  only wants to stabilize their own interests. Therefore, to me, interrupting the convention rules is something important.

Q: Do you think the active mass on the internet are too reliable on the network? If they can leave the internet and stand out for their views, then that firewall would become useless...

Ai: The internet, I think, it is a school. People exchange their views to realize many problems. Certainly that is the first step. For some people with the ability to act, they can do something. For those who cannot act, they spread the messages, they are all contributing in some ways and I think it doesn’t matter what they do. Not everyone needs to be a revolutionary. That’s not necessary at all. How to make life happier, let yourself agree with what you do and to move the people around you, they are all very important.

Q: Will there be any followers’ gathering in other cities?

Ai: That is possible. Well, I am a man of leisure anyway. When I see people are happy with this, I will continue to do this.

Q: We have an editor in the US. He has a sharp question for you....

Q: (interrupting) Let’s see what followers you have got....

Ai: If  followers in Hong Kong have arranged for a day to spread a headline together at the same hour, that would be powerful and it doesn’t matter what the issue is, isn’t it? I feel that would be very powerful and would create some forceful (influences) .We can try and let our technology be part of our daily living issues. Isn’t it wonderful?

Q: We do need the help of our mainland followers...

Ai: Followers are without national boundary, we are all the same. What sharp question you just mentioned?  (from the US co-worker).

Q: If your father is not Ai Qing, would your life be different? Would your action and achievement be different?

Ai: You tell him, my father is not Ai Qing. I am an illegitimate son by my mom and my neighbor Old Zhang....

Q: hahahahahaha...

Ai: Secret!

Q: He has misunderstood... what we care is how to put Twitter Campaigns in China and in other places into reality? Push them into some larger events? With stronger effect?

Ai: I think it is necessary to accelerate the pace of (ideas) exchanges, repeatedly make it a habit of the people, no matter whether it is an ability to action....for example, when everybody come (would be good), I think that is possible, not that it must be an issue to discuss. But when everyone feel that...Ah, we all have the power. We can gather so many of us together and we can spread a heading at one time and do what we want. So in the future, we are also going to have some mutual concerns. Isn’t that great? Then everyone passing on to mobilize some others. I think that is something great! Once, we had an network strike in Beijing, around 700 or 800 people came. We were so happy, we played football, we drank and ate, all day, from breakfast to lunch to dinner. The national security people came too...sat there and did not have reason to interrupt. They might think this group of people were just eating and playing together, nothing wrong with them. It’s a bit like a saying that I have heard before, let democracy be our air. When you are familiar with this air, you will get used to it. I think democracy is not a purpose. Democracy is to make better quality of life. Isn’t it great to make our quality of life better...

Q: It reminds me of something interesting, "no longer party-oriented"...

Ai: That’s also something fun and playful. Anything more to say? If not then I better stop.

Q: Alright, thank you