Ai Weiwei
Leading Chinese artist, curator, architectural designer, cultural and social commentator and activist.
"Life is never guaranteed to be safe, so we better use it while we are still in good condition."
"I tell people that because you don’t bear any responsibility, you put me in danger. If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it, I become singled out, even though what I’m saying is common sense. It’s very essential values that we all have to protect. But in Chinese society, people are giving up on protecting these values."
"I also have to speak out for people around me who are afraid, who think it is not worth it or who have totally given up hope. So I want to set an example: you can do it and this is okay, to speak out."
"Antiques exist as evidence of the cultural tracks we made in the past."
"Freedom of speech implies the world isn’t defined. It is meaningful when people are allowed to see the world their way."
"Once again, the facts have been erased."
"I have to respect my life, and free expression is part of my life. I can never really silence myself."
"They [the government] cannot stop people from communicating freely, to get information and to express themselves. When they do that, this nation is not a right place to live. They sacrifice generations of people’s opportunities. This is a crime."
"Tax crimes should be investigated by the tax bureau, not through secret police detention."
"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."
"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."
"One of the reasons religions are widely accepted is spiritual laziness and its resulting fear."
"They have to have an enemy. They have to create you as their enemy in order for them to continue their existence. It’s very ironic."
"A fine line separates Chinese intellectuals and professors from the political gangsters who protect them."
"Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it. I don’t feel that much anger. I equally have a lot of joy."
"In China, there is a long history of the government not revealing information, so it’s difficult for the Chinese people to ever know the truth. It is vital that we try to bring that truth to life."
"They [the government] really want to maintain power. At the same time, they refuse to communicate. They refuse to have good intentions. They refuse to be sincere. How can that last?"
"I think it’s a responsibility for any artist to protect freedom of expression and to use any way to extend this power."
"Today, the West feels very shy about human rights and the political situation. They’re in need of money. But every penny they borrowed or made from China has really come as a result of how this nation sacrificed everybody’s rights. With globalization and the Internet, we all know it. Don’t pretend you don’t know it. The Western politicians—shame on them if they say they’re not responsible for this. It’s getting worse, and it will keep getting worse.”
"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."