Ai Weiwei Quotes, Country Quotes, Military 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.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Country Quotes , Military Quotes

I was an illegal alien for many, many years. I couldn't move. If I moved I could not even get a visa back.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Moving Quotes , Years Quotes

[Shanghai Biennale] has been my attitude for as long as I've been practicing art and other cultural-related activities.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Attitude Quotes

Now I've come to such a mixed culture: America, Europe, South America, Africa. And the politics are changing everywhere all the time and becoming even more unpredictable. There's no such thing as "fixed" culture. China is also becoming more global. Its problems are becoming international problems, becoming German problems, becoming American problems. Nothing is clear-cut. Perhaps I'll find my way - or get totally lost.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Culture Quotes , Problem Quotes

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.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Excuse Quotes , Reason Quotes

I think art is a very important weapon to achieve human freedom

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Thinking Quotes

For those actors and directors who produce films which are always about the old kingdom or about heroes, you know about the fantasies related to the classics, but there is no real discussion about today's life and no discussion of the real conditions - which is really sickening. They've become part of a conspiracy, collaborators of the crime, which is lying to the general public and trying to hide the kind of criminal acts happening in many cases.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Lying Quotes , Real Quotes

I don't think [price] reflects if the work is good or bad.A good artist shouldn't be nervous about that.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Artist Quotes , Thinking Quotes

The biggest obstacle in interacting with China is the difference in perspectives about basic values. These include issues such as human rights, the concept of law and constitution.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Law Quotes , Differences Quotes

If a nation cannot face its past, it has no future.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Past Quotes , Faces Quotes

I think everybody deserves freedom. Freedom is such an abstract word, but it's all we need.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Thinking Quotes

Dictatorship is a story about death of others who turn out to be you coincidently.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Stories Quotes , Dictatorship Quotes

In the end, I think, the state's rigidity is a function of its own insecurity, its indecisiveness.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Insecurity Quotes

Once you've tasted freedom, it stays in your heart...

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes

China partially wants to become part of the world. By hosting the Olympics and the Expo, they made a big effort to tell people: Look, we are the same. They want to be accepted by the international community.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , People Quotes , Effort Quotes

Only with the Internet can a peasant I have never met hear my voice and I can learn what's on his mind. A fairy tale has come true.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Voice Quotes , Mind Quotes

China's culture and history are closely related to my living environment. This country is my birthplace. It is also where I grew up. Its culture and history shape my relations with family, friends, society, and daily life.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Country Quotes , Culture Quotes

I don't belong to a working system. They only select people if you belong to one so you can be controlled.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , People Quotes , Select Quotes

Art needs to stand for something.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Needs Quotes

I was in the most restricted prison in China, the most tough. The design of the prison is modeled for internal crimes of the Communist party, so it's like a mafia family's law. It's independent to the law this nation openly applies. It's the place they take you before they give you over to the judicial system. You stay there for a year or two and they make you really suffer to confess everything.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Party Quotes , Independent Quotes