Ai Weiwei to young Qatari artists: You must find your 'own language'

Renowned Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei advised young artists to find their language to make their voices heard, as he spoke about his ‘dangerous’ journey as an artist and political activist during his first public talk in Doha which saw a packed Museum of Islamic Art auditorium on Tuesday night.
“A lot of young people often ask for my advice. My case is not recommendable because it was really an extreme condition and I’m very lucky to become like this. For me art is a journey which puts you in a totally unknown condition and that’s why I love art although it’s a dangerous profession,” said Ai.
He said as an individual, an artist must find a way “to express yourself, to find a language to communicate to have your voice heard very clearly and even to start some kind of conversation.”
The son of the poet Ai Qing denounced by China’s Communist Party, he and his family were sent to labour camps where they stayed for 18 years from 1958.
Asked on his favourite verse written by his father, he said,”I’ve known him by his life than what he writes, surviving all seasons even during very hard situations cleaning public toilets.”
He talked about his life in the labour camps, education in New York, his arrest and 81-day detention in 2011, and the transformation of his artistic production, among others.
With a long and established career as a contemporary artist, Ai resides and works in Berlin and Beijing. He studied animation at the Beijing Film Academy, then studied art in New York in the early 80s. Upon returning to China a decade later, Ai advocated for experimental artists by publishing underground books and curating avant-garde exhibitions.
He has worked in many media, including sculpture, installation, photography, architecture and film.
Moderated by art expert and curator Tom Eccles, the public talk also featured Swiss businessman, diplomat and art collector, Uli Sigg who advised Arab artists to create art different from the global mainstream by exploring their own roots.
“My suggestion is to create an art different from the global mainstream even though you may want or eventually become part of it. You have to begin with your own roots because it’s where the difference can come from. Of course you must bring in a contemporary language which could be debated thus have relevance for today,” he said.
Ai will also visit Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and QM Gallery Katara and meet with senior Qatar Museums representatives as well as explore the country’s notable public art projects, including the sculpture East-West / West-East by Richard Serra, near Zekreet.
He will also meet with aspiring artists including residents at the Fire Station: Artist in Residence Programme giving local-based artists opportunity to discuss the creative process and explore different techniques with a hugely experienced and established artistic figure.