I never really read Allen Ginsberg poetry, even though I have a book he gave me.
AI WEIWEIWe literally lived underground. We dug a hole and lived there for years. My father cleaned public toilets, even though he was a highly respected poet.
More Ai Weiwei Quotes
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This week, the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of for 100 years.
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My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is never about exhibiting in museums or about hanging it on the wall. Art should live in the heart of the people.
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The people will always have the last word – even if someone has a very weak, quiet voice. Such power will collapse because of a whisper.
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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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As a person, I was born to give out my opinions. By giving out my opinions, I realize who I am.
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You have so many museums in the West, and so many shows, you need somebody to show the work, otherwise it’s empty.
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The motivation is really to say people can find the game of getting involved interesting and find the problem and really have the passion and the enthusiasm to solve it and move forward, but that’s all I know.
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We never really see the global situation as a total situation. Today’s political leaders are still lacking of the vision.
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Being an artist is more of a mindset, a way of seeing things; it is no longer so much about producing something.
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Censorship is saying: “I’m the one who says the last sentence. Whatever you say, the conclusion is mine.” But the internet is like a tree that is growing.
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Everyone thinks the Chinese government selected me. Never ever. I was selected by Herzog and de Meuron.
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That’s why I always question this sense. The feeling of home really requires a lot of trust. It requires you to identify with it, which I always find myself very contradictory to.
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New York has given me a lot, but I still don’t consider it home.
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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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The Internet is uncontrollable. And if the Internet is uncontrollable, freedom will win. It’s as simple as that.
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