Milwaukee Art Museum director Dan Keegan finally gives an interview about the museum’s “Summer of China” exhibitions, after having refused one a few weeks ago in an attempt to duck questions about what MAM will do now that Ai Weiwei is imprisoned in China.

Keegan now says that being in the museum world means not taking a stand, because taking a stand is ineffective and potentially “arrogant.” (He would not share with reporter Mary-Louise Schumacher who asked him the question that kicks off this story.)

He says the museum will hold a panel July 7 titled “Ai Weiwei: The Collision of Art and Politics,” and that it will be a “balanced discussion” including the perspective of the Chinese government.

This is the “news-gathering” approach in which all sides are represented, even when one side is blatantly in the wrong. The Chinese government has harassed Ai for years, beating him into cerebral hemorrhage months before capturing him without posting charges against him—and since then, capturing anyone who has associated themselves with him, including simply other artists making homages to his captivity.

This is, plainly, a campaign of terror.

The real arrogance is living in a world that pretends otherwise, whether reacting truthfully is “effective” in releasing the prisoner or not. A panel discussion including the Chinese government is supposed to be more effective?

Jen Graves (The Stranger’s former arts critic) mostly writes about things you approach with your eyeballs. But she’s also a history nerd interested in anything that needs more talking about, from male...

7 replies on “Museum Director Wonders Whether Art-World Protests Over Ai Weiwei’s Detention Are “Arrogant””

  2. There is a temptation in contemporary liberalism to cultural relativism and, in the very recent past, to swoon at the feet of third-world dictators merely for having been far left, despite being unspeakably brutal.

    This is a quality liberals cannot lose quickly enough. You can see the very same bullshit with said museum director.

  4. Yeah, I’m in agreement with Jen. Respect should be earned, not dole out for fear of repercussions. And we are what, a trillion dollars in debt to China? A trillion. omg.

  5. “Like bones to the human body, the axle to the wheel, the wing to the bird, and the air to the wing, so is liberty the essence of life. Whatever is done without it is imperfect.” – Jose Marti

  6. ‘He says the museum will hold a panel July 7 titled “Ai Weiwei: The Collision of Art and Politics,” and that it will be a “balanced discussion” including the perspective of the Chinese government.’

    So, what, there’s going to be jackbooted thugs on the premises to beat and scream at anybody who says something crosswise about the Chinese government? Isn’t that how you’d accurately, fairly represent their position?

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