“Any politician who respects China's government should tell it openly what is in his heart. It is disrespectful to keep quiet about such issues - both vis-a-vis the government and the people concerned.” PeopleShouldHeartGovernmentIssuesPoliticianQuietConcernedChinaDisrespectful Author:Ai Weiwei
“If people are being abused or even killed during an arrest, this is highly disturbing.” PeopleIfsDisturbing Author:Ai Weiwei
“At the moment about 350,000 students return to China from abroad each year - 350,000 young and educated people. I know about them because they know me and often ask me in the street if they can take a selfie with me. These folks are creative and ironic, and the government can ultimately not control what is going on in their heads.” PeopleIfsKnowsYearsMomentsGovernmentYoungAsksCreativeStreetsStudentsReturnFolksChinaEducatedAsk MeIronicKnow Me Author:Ai Weiwei
“I think to deal with the situation like human crisis, 65 million people being displaced, lost their home, and with such human tragedy, has to make every level of society to be conscious and to be alert about the situation. So, the politicians and the people who make decisions very often is the one we think can make some difference. But of course they will not make a difference if the citizens or the individuals not push it or not to speak out, to possess a very strong voice about, this is not acceptable.” PeopleThinkingHomeIndividualSpeakStrongDecisionSituationPoliticianConsciousTragedyCrisisMaking A DifferenceVery Strong Author:Ai Weiwei
“Any individual can contribute its own belief. And our society or even our government are made by the people. The people would have the final voice, but it requires each individual to act. If we don't act, then the result is very clear. So for too long Americans take liberty as granted. We think we are in the safe hand, the democracy and the liberty, which is not true. And it can be even getting much worse than today.” PeopleThinkingLongTodayIndividualBeliefLibertyDemocracyGranted Author:Ai Weiwei
“I deal with students every day - from China, Germany, the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan. And I've noticed that the Chinese students are the least trained in having a sense of aesthetics. They lack any ability to sense what is beautiful or what is proper. They can be learned and skillful, but they lack the ability to make their own free judgment. It is really sad to see young adults of 20, 25 years who were never taught to make their own decisions. People who can't do that don't get a sense of responsibility. And if you lack a sense of responsibility, you push the blame onto the system.” PeopleBeautifulAbilityDecisionResponsibilityStudentsJudgmentBlameYoung AdultChineseSense Of ResponsibilityReally Sad Author:Ai Weiwei
“I call on people to be 'obsessed citizens,' forever questioning and asking for accountability. That's the only chance we have today of a healthy and happy life.” PeopleTodayChanceForeverCitizensHealthyAskingObsessedAccountabilityHappy LifeQuestioningHealthy And Happy Author:Ai Weiwei
“Censorship is saying: "I'm the one who says the last sentence. Whatever you say, the conclusion is mine." But the internet is like a tree that is growing. The people will always have the last word – even if someone has a very weak, quiet voice. Such power will collapse because of a whisper.” PeopleIfsLastsVoiceGrowingTreeMinesInternetQuietWeakSentencesConclusionCensorshipCollapseLast WordsWhatever You SayQuiet Voice Author:Ai Weiwei
“I don't believe in the so-called Olympic spirit. I speak from personal experience. When China hosted the Games, it failed to include the people. The event was constructed without regard for their joy.” PeopleBelieveJoySpiritGamesSpeakEventsRegardDon't BelieveChinaPersonal ExperiencesOlympic Spirit Author:Ai Weiwei
“This week, the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of for 100 years. People have been longing for this moment, because it symbolises a turning point in China's relationship with the outside world.” PeopleWorldYearsHas BeensMomentsDreamGamesWeekLongingExtraordinaryChinaOutside WorldTurning PointsOlympic GamesBeijingExtraordinary Moments Author:Ai Weiwei
“Freedom of speech implies the world isn’t defined. It is meaningful when people are allowed to see the world their way.” PeopleWorldWaySpeechMeaningfulDefinedFreedom Of Speech Author:Ai Weiwei
“My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is never about exhibiting in museums or about hanging it on the wall. Art should live in the heart of the people. Ordinary people should have the same ability to understand art as anybody else. I don’t think art is elite or mysterious. I don’t think anybody can separate art from politics. The intention to separate art from politics is itself a very political intention.” PeopleThinkingWayShouldHeartArtPoliticalAbilityExpressionCommunicationWallOrdinaryArt IsShould HaveIntentionDefinitionsMysteriousMuseumsElitesNew WaysOrdinary PeopleFreedom Of Expression Author:Ai Weiwei
“Behind every political deal in this country, the first casualties are always the ordinary people, who are barely treated as human.” PeopleFirstsHumansCountryPoliticalDealsBehindsOrdinaryTreatedOrdinary PeopleCasualties Author:Ai Weiwei
“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.” PeopleWantWholeLike YouDiscussionCrushNegotiationWhole Family Author:Ai Weiwei
“Twitter is the people’s tool, the tool of the ordinary people, people who have no other resources.” PeopleOrdinaryResourcesToolsOrdinary People Author:Ai Weiwei
“If my art has nothing to do with people's pain and sorrow, what is 'art' for?” PeopleIfsArtPainSorrowPain And Sorrow 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
“These are nonviolent people who have lost their freedom simply because they expressed their ideas….In truth, they are heroes of our time.” PeopleIdeasLostHeroOur Time Author:Ai Weiwei
“You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are scared of. A state like China looks so powerful, but they are so scared of the Internet, so the Internet is more powerful than them.” PeopleKnowsLooksStatesPowerfulInternetScaredChina Author:Ai Weiwei
