THE MONEY to pay Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s huge tax bill is landing in the courtyard of his home as paper airplanes, as wads of cash in envelopes or wrapped around fruit. It’s coming by bank transfer, or Internet payment.
Couples have driven by on motorcycles, with the girlfriend throwing the donation from the pillion, Ai, who has earned government anger for his relentless criticism, revealed in a telephone interview yesterday.
“I’m surprised and I’m happy. This shows that nobody believes this wrong accusation by the police,” said Ai, who spent 81 days in custody this year and has since been ordered to pay a 15 million yuan (€1.7 million) tax bill.
The 54-year-old said he was very touched by the millions in yuan in donations which have flooded in since an online campaign began late last week to help him clear the fine.
He was picked up at Beijing airport at the same time as scores of other human rights defenders were arrested amid concerns that the “Jasmine Revolution” in the Arab world could spread to China. The arrest caused a global outcry, as activists, artists and governments complained about his treatment.
After his release, Ai was muzzled and told to stay away from social networks like Twitter and Weibo where he could cause trouble, and for a while he seemed docile. Somehow you just knew it wouldn’t last with the man who helped design the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium, then distanced himself from it as he felt it was too totalitarian.
Ai insists he has done nothing wrong and that the authorities are trying to silence him with the tax evasion charges. In recent weeks he has become more vocal, and his comments more pointed.
Fans have donated generously so far to help pay the bill and there are no signs of a let-up. The flood of donations was a loss of face for the state over the way he has been treated, Ai said.
“The problem is the state has lost credibility, they won’t openly discuss the situation – it’s a hit and run,” said Ai, who had a prominent exhibition at London’s Tate Modern earlier this year.
“The authorities keep telling me don’t argue or they’ll change their mind. It’s only a few days since they billed me and the whole Internet was getting crazy, saying the government has no shame and we’ll buy you out because we all know you and love you and support you,” said Ai.
“Some old people have given their retirement money. Some people have given me their first month’s salary. There are tens of thousands of people trying to lend money. I say if you want to, I will borrow the money and I will repay you. They say you can pay us back in 100 years. It’s very touching,” he said.
“I haven’t got the final number. I reckon that (over 5.3 million yuan) is the minimum number, because we don’t have enough people to count it. We were not prepared for this,” he said.
There has been no official reaction, but in an editorial in the state-run Global Times, unnamed experts said Ai could be guilty of "illegal fundraising". The commentary also said the movement did not represent the broader Chinese population.