Exiled artist Ai Weiwei: Americans are living in an authoritarian state

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

World-renowned artist and former political prisoner Ai Weiwei sits down with Margaret Hoover at The Art Students League of New York, where he studied in the 1980s, to reflect on his life’s work and his new memoir, “1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows.”

Ai describes his resistance to Chinese authoritarianism and the 81 days he spent in secret detention; he says he is hesitant to return to a China that has become “more extreme” in censoring dissidents.

He calls suffering “necessary” for his art and describes how the 2008 Sichuan earthquake made him question himself "as an artist, as an individual” — and merged his art and activism.

Ai warns of the rise in authoritarianism across the globe, including in Western democracies, telling Margaret, “You are already in the authoritarian state. You just don't know it.”

Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, Pfizer Inc., The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.