Ai Weiwei Quotes, School Quotes, Media Quotes

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

It is not an easy job to govern China, I am aware of that. There are crises and emergencies all the time, we might not even be aware of some. But I am afraid we'll have to wait and observe precisely what the government is up to.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Jobs Quotes , Government Quotes

Individual; that means he has his own special way to communicate, which creates the form of him. In the information age, this expression and communication has become so different.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Communication Quotes , Mean Quotes

I think Donald Trump should cool down a little bit. To pay more attention to the history. To really understand what U.S.'s value is about. I think, as a president, those things you always have to ask.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , President Quotes

I think I'm just a traveler. When you walk across a river and there's no bridge, you build one. I'm used to having to deal with Chinese Communist ideology - it's not really an ideology, but a method of control. But China's problems are not just China's problems - they're human problems. Humanity has always worked better when you see it as one.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Humanity Quotes

All movies in China are censored. Out of 600 movies produced in China, only 60 are allowed to show in theatres.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Theatre Quotes , China Quotes

I think it's more important to show your work to the public.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Important Quotes

Every day I'm learning something new from the practice. It's very rewarding.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Learning Something New Quotes , Practice Quotes

Of course, most luxury goods in China are for corrupted officials and their relatives. And that made China become the biggest luxury-goods market. In this kind of dictatorship, in this kind of totalitarian society, it is easy to make deals that you cannot make in a democratic society.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Luxury Quotes , Kind Quotes

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

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Media Quotes , Government Quotes

China spends a lot of resources and effort on gaining soft power over culture. The hope is that it can be the last lifeline for the Party's survival. Obviously, the idea will fail.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Party Quotes , Ideas Quotes

What is important is that we actively express our thoughts and wishes, in every realm that we can access.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Important Quotes , Wish 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.

6 years ago

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

In a society like this there is no negotiation, no discussion, except to tell you that power can crush you any time they want — not only you, your whole family and all people like you.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Crush Quotes , People Quotes

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

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Photography Quotes , Art Quotes

I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Mean Quotes , People Quotes

I think my stance and my way of life is my most important art.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Thinking Quotes

Freedom of speech implies the world isn’t defined. It is meaningful when people are allowed to see the world their way.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Meaningful Quotes , People Quotes

If I really have nothing to do, I just watch my cats, take some photos, and go back to my personal blog.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Cat Quotes , Watches 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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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Meaningful Quotes , Crazy Quotes