This so-called contemporary art is not a form, but a philosophy of society.
AI WEIWEIHopefully, other successes aren’t like me. It carries much more meaning to other people; my success story is irrelevant. It doesn’t make any sense.
More Ai Weiwei Quotes
-
-
Art should live in the heart of the people. Ordinary people should have the same ability to understand art as anybody else. I don’t think art is elite or mysterious.
AI WEIWEI -
Stupidity can win for a moment, but it can never really succeed because the nature of humans is to seek freedom. Rulers can delay that freedom, but they cannot stop it.
AI WEIWEI -
I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial.
AI WEIWEI -
Life is much more interesting when you make a little bit of effort.
AI WEIWEI -
In a society like this there is no negotiation, no discussion, except to tell you that power can crush you any time they want — not only you, your whole family and all people like you.
AI WEIWEI -
You need a purpose to express yourself, but that expression is its own purpose.
AI WEIWEI -
Just look at the statistics: Each university has tens of thousands of applications for students who want to be in art school, but they can only accept a few hundred.
AI WEIWEI -
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.
AI WEIWEI -
I think the government regrets having Sina Weibo, but they cannot shut it down. That would definitely be suicidal.
AI WEIWEI -
[Museums] all belongs to the cultural department, which is the biggest cultural department in the world.
AI WEIWEI -
I grew up in a desert, which has no kind of imagination.
AI WEIWEI -
For me, it is OK as long as I can breathe, as long as my heart is pumping, as long as I can express myself.
AI WEIWEI -
The relationship between the Chinese government and me is like a Cold War.
AI WEIWEI -
It [success] is really by mistake.
AI WEIWEI -
Say what you say plainly, and then take responsibility for it.
AI WEIWEI