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How did Ai Weiwei describe the destruction of his Beijing studio and other art districts?

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Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei in 2019, facing the camera and wearing a black zip-up jacket. — Ai Weiwei Ai Weiwei, 2019.

Ai Weiwei has experienced the destruction of his studios on two notable occasions, viewing them through different lenses based on the circumstances of each event:

Shanghai Studio (2011): When a studio complex he built in Shanghai was razed, local authorities cited a lack of permits. However, Ai speculated that the demolition was actually motivated by two documentary films he had produced that highlighted injustices committed by the Shanghai government.1
Beijing Studio (2018): Regarding the surprise destruction of his studio in the ZuoYou Art District, Ai did not interpret the event as a targeted act of political retaliation against him personally. Instead, he characterized the demolition—which occurred without warning and damaged some of his artworks—as a broader example of discriminatory practices by the Chinese government against all artists and those who advocate for free expression.2

In both instances, Ai’s experiences reflect the ongoing tension between his activism and the restrictive environment for art and dissent in China.23