The relationship between the Chinese government and me is like a Cold War.
AI WEIWEIWe should also leave behind discrimination, because it is narrow-minded and ignorant, denies contact and warmth; and corrodes mankind’s belief that we can better ourselves.
More Ai Weiwei Quotes
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A nation that has no music and no fairytales is a tragedy.
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Freedom of expression is a very essential condition for me to make any art. Also, it is an essential value for my life. I have to protect this right and also to fight for the possibility.
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It is not an easy job to govern China, I am aware of that.
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I came back [to Beijing ] because that’s the only time I had an excuse to come back, or otherwise I would never have a reason to come back.
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I don’t think my father had a direct influence on me, but I do think, more or less, I was influenced by his independent individualism.
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We grew up in a very material-lacking socialist society, but today China is a capitalist society. It’s very materialistic. It’s full of desire and luxury goods.
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The media is the message. It carries the full intention and the meaning. Once you change it…it’s very disturbing.
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In this kind of dictatorship, in this kind of totalitarian society, it is easy to make deals that you cannot make in a democratic society.
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In my case, I was stuck there for quite a while. New York is large enough to be a very abstract city, so nobody cares.
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The jobs for 7 million university graduates every year, the immense corruption: Even some Western governments would have to scramble to find solutions to such problems.
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Even if there have been setbacks during these past years, China is changing. China’s society is opening.
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Growing up, my family was an enemy of the state. I have experienced more disappointment than joy, much more sad stories or desperate conditions.
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If my art has nothing to do with people’s pain and sorrow, what is ‘art’ for?
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I hope that my work expresses my worldview and encourages people to exchange ideas.
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I think to deal with the situation like human crisis, 65 million people being displaced, lost their home, and with such human tragedy, has to make every level of society to be conscious and to be alert about the situation.
AI WEIWEI