Internationally renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei announced his plans to create a memorial on the Greek island of Lesvos to highlight the plight of refugees.

“A lot of people have lost their lives under the waves… we need a memorial,” Ai told AFP after a news conference on the project.

The Chinese artist has already set up a studio on the Greek island. “Next year we are going to be involved with different projects,” said Ai and added that his workshops in China and Germany and a number of his students would be involved.

“As an artist, I have to relate to humanity’s struggles … I never separate these situations from my art,” said the artist who is also well-known for his clashes with the Chinese authorities regarding his work.

Ai Weiwei had recently visited Lesvos and praised the people of Lesvos for responding to refugees’ needs and for being “very helpful and very tolerant”, as the Guardian mentions.

He also praised the work done by many foreign non-governmental organisations, but he stressed that there was a lack of awareness of the refugee crisis in Europe and around the world in general.

“The border is not in Lesvos, it really [is] in our minds and in our hearts ,” Ai said.