A society is healthy only when it allows its members to discuss their thoughts openly. This is also the only way that a society can gather consensus, let everyone express his or her wish, and foster creativity.
AI WEIWEIOnce you’ve tasted freedom, it stays in your heart and no one can take it. Then, you can be more powerful than a whole country.
More Ai Weiwei Quotes
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It’s like the mountains, the ocean and the rivers. It has its own geological forms. Societies cannot be flat. But during change, human rights, human dignity and free speech have to be protected. Otherwise, we’ll be going backward.
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It became like a symbolic thing, to be “an artist.” After Duchamp, I realized that being an artist is more about a lifestyle and attitude than producing some product.
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[Museums] all belongs to the cultural department, which is the biggest cultural department in the world.
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I’m an artist who is always looking for what is possible. I’m always looking to extend the boundaries.
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There are many cases and layers of racist behavior in the US – from police treatment to the issues of education and job opportunities. In America, however, such cases are being discussed publically.
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I think my stance and my way of life is my most important art.
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What is important is that we actively express our thoughts and wishes, in every realm that we can access.
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We have to give our opinion, we have to say something, or we are a part of it. As an artist I am forced to say something.
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If civil society has nobody who protects the law, then what kind of society is that?
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Creativity is the power to act.
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I believe [the architecture firm] Herzog and de Meuron and our collaboration made the product the best it could be.
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The relationship between the Chinese government and me is like a Cold War.
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Any politician who respects China’s government should tell it openly what is in his heart. It is disrespectful to keep quiet about such issues – both vis-a-vis the government and the people concerned.
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I think I’m just a traveler. When you walk across a river and there’s no bridge, you build one. I’m used to having to deal with Chinese Communist ideology.
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[Therefore] holding a trial outside the court. I think that is fairness, that is justice, that is a civil society. Otherwise call it an evil society because everything is hidden.
AI WEIWEI