“We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more efficient. That is very short-sighted. China looks efficient only because it can sacrifice most people's rights. This is not something the west should be happy about.” PeopleWorldShouldLooksCountrySometimesDemocracyRightsSacrificeWestChinaTendenciesEfficientCriticiseShort SightedAuthoritarian Government Author:Ai Weiwei
“China is an old nation with a colourful history. Its booming economy has triggered an appetite and a curiosity around the world for its art and culture, one that continues to grow. I can, however, tell people that it is a show with no actor.” PeopleWorldArtI CanShowsCultureActorsNationsGrowsEconomyCuriosityChinaAround The WorldAppetiteColourfulArt And Culture Author:Ai Weiwei
“Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world it is more dangerous. In the west people think it's a right they're born with. Here it's a right given by the government, and one that's not really practised.” PeopleThinkingWorldRealGovernmentGivenBornOpinionDangerousCitizensConstitutionWestChineseReal World Author:Ai Weiwei
“When you have strict censorship of the internet, young students cannot receive a full education. Their view of the world is imbalanced. There can be no true discussion of the issues.” WorldYoungViewsIssuesStudentsInternetDiscussionCensorshipStrictYoung Students Author:Ai Weiwei
“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.” PeopleWorldWantLooksMadeBigsCommunityEffortInternationalChinaAcceptedOlympicsInternational Community Author:Ai Weiwei
“New York is a city where you're so alone, you're an individual, you can disappear. You can make something happen. But it's very different to make something happen in the art world.” WorldArtDifferentHappensIndividualCitiesNew YorkDisappearThings HappenArt World Author:Ai Weiwei
“This world should be much more open and should be much more free, so the young people would have the chance to exercise the quality of their lives.” PeopleWorldShouldYoungChanceQualityThis WorldExercise Author:Ai Weiwei
“I think by not letting young people be fully informed, how can they have energy and passion and the right picture of the world? I think that's the true crime.” PeopleThinkingWorldYoungPassionEnergyCrime Author:Ai Weiwei
“To experience poetry is to see over and above reality. It is to discover that which is beyond the physical, to experience another life and another level of feeling. It is to wonder about the world, to understand the nature of people and, most importantly, to be shared with another, old or young, known or unknown.” PeopleWorldFeelingsRealityYoungLevelsKnownWonderPoetry IsAnother Life Author:Ai Weiwei
“By participating in the society we live in, we understand our conditions and the way we relate to the world.” WorldWayConditionsRelateParticipating Author:Ai Weiwei
“The rest of the world understands little about China's changes and the possibilities and crises that come with them.” WorldLittlesPossibilityCrisisChina Author:Ai Weiwei
“China seems unpredictable because it has a distinct culture and social system. It is still a mystery to other parts of the world, even though the veil of China has been lifted many times as a result of globalization.” WorldHas BeensStillsSeemsCultureSocialResultsMysteryChinaUnpredictableVeilsGlobalizationSocial Systems Author:Ai Weiwei
“The importance of elections, transparency, legal procedures, an independent army, and the judicial system is not regarded as highly in China. These core values are the most important evidence of the health of a society, quality of life, and security. A clear understanding of such differences will help the rest of the world understand China and all that is happening to the nation.” WorldImportantHelpingValuesNationsUnderstandingDifferencesQualityClearSecurityHappeningsEvidenceImportanceArmyIndependentElectionChinaCoreProceduresQuality Of LifeTransparencyJudicialCore ValuesJudicial System Author:Ai Weiwei
“[Museums] all belongs to the cultural department, which is the biggest cultural department in the world.” WorldDepartmentMuseums Author:Ai Weiwei
“China hasn't only existed for one day. Now, the whole nation has become richer and it's become a problem. The problem is universal. The factor is big. Everybody has to rethink the balance of the world and the whole landscape.” WorldWholeProblemBigsNationsBalanceOne DayUniversalChinaFactorsLandscape Author:Ai Weiwei
“Recently I danced in a video spoof of the song 'Gangnam Style,' and it was quickly banned across multiple Chinese online video platforms. But the story still traveled all over the world, carried in hundreds of international media reports.” WorldStillsStoriesSongMediaStyleInternationalVideoChineseReportsOnlinePlatformsMultipleTraveledBannedGangnam StyleSpoof 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
“The world is not changing if you don’t shoulder the burden of responsibility.” IfsWorldResponsibilityBurdenShouldersChanging The WorldBurden Of Responsibility Author:Ai Weiwei
“Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be.” ThinkingWorldShouldKindActionChangeSocietyActivityWho You AreChineseChanging The WorldMaking ChangesDoingsFamous Artist 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
“Without freedom of speech, there is no modern world, just a barbaric one.” WorldModernSpeechFreedom Of SpeechModern WorldBarbaric Author:Ai Weiwei
“Imagine one day, the hateful world around you collapses. And it is your attitude, words and actions that put an end to it. Will you be excited?” WorldEndsActionAttitudeImagineOne DayExcitedCollapseHatefulWords And Actions Author:Ai Weiwei
