Although the artist, who currently lives in Berlin, is an outspoken free speech activist, the demolition doesn’t appear to be a political act. Rather, the destruction of the studio was commercially motivated—which is what makes it a poignant symbol of the new China, home of the world’s largest shopping mall. [...]
Ga explains that he had little warning of the studio’s destiny. Just a few days before demolition crews showed up, the assistant learned that the space was targeted for destruction, and no specifics were given on exactly when that would happen. “They came and started knocking down the windows today without telling us beforehand. There’s still so much stuff inside,” according to the studio manager, who spoke while in the throes of the action, simultaneously directing a crew of movers. [...]
As for the reaction to the destructive act in Beijing, the young construction worker driving the demolition vehicle, who was not named, claims to have no particular feelings about tearing down the artist’s historic studio or the fate of Ai’s great works, The Nation reports. He admits, however, that he prefers small structures to big shopping malls. “But even if I don’t like it, I’m just an ant, what say do I have? And anyway, I don’t really know what you mean by art.”
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