Ai Weiwei Quotes, Photography Quotes, Art Quotes

I have people working together, doing different things: architecture, art installation, photography, publishing, and curatorial works and design.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Photography Quotes , Art Quotes

My understanding of Chinese history is limited. So far, I have only scratched its surface; I wish I could find out more.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Understanding Quotes , Chinese Quotes

I spent a lot of time standing on street corners [of New York City] talking to local residents. I spent time in bookstores and galleries. But most of the time, I really did not have much to do.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , New York Quotes , Talking 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.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Father Quotes , Independent Quotes

The whole Chinese system - not just the political leadership, the military too, the whole power structure, our education system, the whole of society - is suffering from being cut off from the free flow of information. That's why the country can't face up to open competition - unless it resorts to measures like North Korea.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Country Quotes , Military Quotes

China has a rich history that has spanned millennia. It consists of the histories of many nations and regions.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Rich Quotes , China Quotes

If a society cannot even support somebody like me, then people ask: Who is under protection then? That's why there is such support for me. It is not because I am so beautiful or I am so charming. People feel: This guy is fighting for us.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Beautiful Quotes , Fighting Quotes

To the media, I have become a symbolic figure, critical of China. According to the government, I am a dangerous threat.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Media Quotes , Government Quotes

I always thought that in modern history Chinese people are like a dish of sand, never really close together. But I think a dish of sand is a good metaphor because we have the Internet. We don't have to be physically united. You can be an individual and have your own set of values but join others in certain struggles. There is nothing more powerful than that.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Powerful Quotes , Struggle Quotes

Twitter is the people’s tool, the tool of the ordinary people, people who have no other resources.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , People Quotes , Ordinary Quotes

Being an artist is more of a mindset, a way of seeing things; it is no longer so much about producing something.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Artist Quotes , Way Quotes

[Cultural department] understand nothing but bureaucratic daily affairs. They don't care about culture.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Culture Quotes , Care Quotes

The deadly weapon against totalitarian society is openness - doing everything very openly on the Internet, letting people know every detail, any little development. Once it is out there, everybody can make their own judgement. [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.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , People Quotes

China didn't want to lose the cutting edge of technology. So the idea of having a Sina Weibo was an attempt to compete with Twitter. However, it has no soul - which is freedom of expression. Nevertheless, I think the government regrets having Sina Weibo, but they cannot shut it down. That would definitely be suicidal.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Regret Quotes , Suicidal Quotes

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

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Littles Quotes , World Quotes

Without freedom of speech, there is no modern world, just a barbaric one.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Freedom Of Speech Quotes , World Quotes

Life is much more interesting when you make a little bit of effort.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Interesting Quotes , Effort Quotes

Twitter is most suitable for me. In the Chinese language, 140 characters is a novella.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Character Quotes , Chinese Quotes

A city is a place that can offer maximum freedom. Otherwise it’s incomplete.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Cities Quotes , Incomplete Quotes

I never felt like a Chinese citizen because I was pushed away at a very young age. My father, a writer, was a national enemy of the Communist Party. He was forbidden to write for 20 years. We 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. Nationality and borders are barriers to our intelligence, to our imagination and to all kinds of possibilities.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Father Quotes , Party Quotes