Ai Weiwei Quotes

It [success] is really by mistake.

6 years ago

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I lived there [ in New York City] as an artist, but never as a Chinese artist.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , New York Quotes , Artist Quotes

[Cultural departments] don't care about culture. Maybe they're the furthest from the people who understand culture.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , People Quotes , Culture Quotes

Now many enterprises are made by individuals, so the attitude has started to change.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Attitude Quotes , Individual Quotes

I want people to see their own power.

6 years ago

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The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008. During the earthquake many schools collapsed. Thousands of young students lost their lives, and you could see bags and study material everywhere. Then you realize individual life, media, and the lives of the students are serving very different purposes. The lives of the students disappeared within the state propaganda, and very soon everybody will forget everything.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , School Quotes , Media Quotes

Civilization has evolved toward more acceptance, understanding and tolerance of global thinking. If we accept differences, our creativity booms. It makes life much more colorful. It also makes humanity much more safe. If we see pureness somewhere as something to be desired, the trouble starts.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Creativity Quotes , Acceptance Quotes

The rest of the world understands little about China's changes and the possibilities and crises that come with them.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Littles Quotes , World Quotes

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. And the kind of condition he had when he was in this society - the kind of mistreatment society gave him.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Father Quotes , Independent Quotes

Growing up, my family was an enemy of the state. I have experienced more disappointment than joy, much more sad stories or desperate conditions.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Growing Up Quotes , Disappointment Quotes

The society was so different [in China] - it was a feudalistic society. It didn't come to a point of industrial revolution until twenty years ago.

6 years ago

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My typical day is I wake up and appreciate that I can still wake up.

6 years ago

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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.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Creativity Quotes , Healthy Quotes

Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it. I don’t feel that much anger. I equally have a lot of joy.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Joy Quotes

Of course, there [in China] has to be chaos. It has to be crazy, and I don't think there's anything wrong about it except this government, which is really incapable of doing anything meaningful.

6 years ago

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I don't believe in a sense of home.

6 years ago

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My angst and my insecurity reflect the state's angst and insecurity. The state is scared too.

6 years ago

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Anyone fighting for freedom does not want to totally lose their freedom.

6 years ago

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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.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Media Quotes , Messages Quotes

China and the U.S. are two societies with very different attitudes towards opinion and criticism. In China, I am constantly under surveillance. Even my slightest, most innocuous move can - and often is - censored by Chinese authorities.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Attitude Quotes , Moving Quotes