In my life, I often make so-called major decisions by very quick, immediate responses.
AI WEIWEII call on people to be ‘obsessed citizens,’ forever questioning and asking for accountability. That’s the only chance we have today of a healthy and happy life.
More Ai Weiwei Quotes
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I deal with students every day – from China, Germany, the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan. And I’ve noticed that the Chinese students are the least trained in having a sense of aesthetics.
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It’s really rubbish that some kind of “technical” learning means you will be a better person because you know this skill better.
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I don’t think China has professional museums – not in the past, present, or near future.
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Every day I’m learning something new from the practice. It’s very rewarding.
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China is at a different stage of development, human rights are violated here much more often. And still, we see improvements even here.
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There’s no single artwork I even want to mention or that I can even really think about it to have any feeling, to be proud of it.
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Without freedom of speech, there is no modern world, just a barbaric one.
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The Internet has established a public sphere and developed a pressure which the government can no longer ignore.
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Everyone wants an iPhone, but it would be impossible to design an iPhone in China because it’s not a product; it’s an understanding of human nature.
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Paintings can be painted with the left hand, the right hand, someone else’s hand, or many people’s hands. The scale of production is irrelevant to its content.
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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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I don’t think China should care if this crazy old guy should have a show here or not.
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He will still mean danger. Modern technology requires calm. You shouldn’t trust anyone with a car who has no knowledge about vehicles or roads.
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This so-called contemporary art is not a form, but a philosophy of society.
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China hasn’t only existed for one day. Now, the whole nation has become richer and it’s become a problem. The problem is universal. The factor is big. Everybody has to rethink the balance of the world and the whole landscape.
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The tragic reality of today is reflected in the true plight of our spiritual existence. We are spineless and cannot stand straight.
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Life is much more interesting when you make a little bit of effort.
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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.
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Once 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.
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In China, we don’t have any contemporary art museums. Until a few years ago, we didn’t even have a gallery.
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Creativity is part of human nature. It can only be untaught.
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I am very much interested in the so-called useless object. I mean, it takes perfect craftsmanship, beautiful material carefully measured and crafted, but at the same time it’s really useless.
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China restricts the society’s freedom of speech. The Communist Party imposes these limits because it lacks confidence towards the future and has no ideals.
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The American experience influenced my understanding of individuality, basic human rights, freedom of expression and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
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I don’t want the next generation to fight the same fight as I did.
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Overturning police cars is a super-intense workout. It’s probably the only sport I enjoy.
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