“Artists are the worst [people]. They are selfish, self-centred; they don't care what happens.” PeopleSelfHappensCareArtistWorstDon't CareSelfish Author:Ai Weiwei
“Warhol came from an ordinary family and he had a profound understanding about capitalism and material culture. He was probably one of the few Western artists - or artists from the United States - that could be considered a true product of his time and brought out that kind of spirit of the culture.” KindStatesSpiritArtistCultureUnderstandingUnitedUnited StatesMaterialsProductsOrdinaryCapitalismProfoundWesternWarhol Author:Ai Weiwei
“I'm not a writer, but today I think you have to be everything. As an artist you have an obligation to let people know what is on your mind and why you're doing this.” PeopleThinkingKnowsMindTodayArtistObligation Author:Ai Weiwei
“If artists cannot speak up for human dignity or rights, then who else will do it?” IfsHumansArtistSpeakRightsDignityHuman Dignity Author:Ai Weiwei
“I don't think [price] reflects if the work is good or bad.A good artist shouldn't be nervous about that.” IfsThinkingArtistNervousGood ArtGood Artist Author:Ai Weiwei
“This is a very general understanding of art in China, that being an artist can make you money and turn you into a star.” ArtArtistTurnsStarsUnderstandingChinaBeing An Artist Author:Ai Weiwei
“I lived there [ in New York City] as an artist, but never as a Chinese artist.” ArtistCitiesNew YorkChineseNew York City Author:Ai Weiwei
“Even though everybody who looked at me would call me a Chinese artist, that's the 1980s. New York in the '80s was not so interesting. I think it's quite narrow-minded. There wasn't much encouragement or opportunities for any artist - not just Chinese artists.” ThinkingArtistOpportunityInterestingNew YorkEncouragementChineseCall Me80sNarrow-minded Author:Ai Weiwei
“To call yourself a Chinese artist or woman artist or African artist reflects a certain kind of condition. To me, that is not necessary.” KindArtistCertainConditionsChineseWoman Artist Author:Ai Weiwei
“Of course, people will call you an old artist or young artist, which is just a character of you. But personally, I don't think my work and my understanding of art is so much related to being Chinese, but the character of that. Maybe it's beyond my own consciousness.” PeopleThinkingArtCharacterYoungArtistCoursesUnderstandingMy OwnConsciousnessArt IsChineseRelatedYoung Artists Author:Ai Weiwei
“We have to give our opinion, we have to say something, or we are a part of it. As an artist I am forced to say something.” GivingArtistOpinion Author:Ai Weiwei
“I think it’s a responsibility for any artist to protect freedom of expression and to use any way to extend this power.” ThinkingWayUseArtistResponsibilityExpressionProtectFreedom Of Expression Author:Ai Weiwei
“Being an artist is more of a mindset, a way of seeing things; it is no longer so much about producing something.” WayArtistSeeingMindsetBeing An Artist Author:Ai Weiwei
“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.” ArtistAttitudeProductsI RealizedLifestyleSymbolicBeing An Artist Author:Ai Weiwei
“I’m an artist who is always looking for what is possible. I’m always looking to extend the boundaries.” ArtistBoundaries Author:Ai Weiwei
“For artists and intellectuals today, what is most needed is to be clear about social responsibility, because that is what most people automatically give up. Just to protect yourself as an individual is very political. You don't have to march on Tiananmen, but you do have to be clear-minded, to find your own means of expression.” PeopleGivingMeanTodayPoliticalArtistIndividualSocialResponsibilityClearExpressionNeededProtectGiving UpMarchSocial ResponsibilityProtect Yourself Author:Ai Weiwei
