Ai Weiwei Quotes, Mean Quotes, Ideas Quotes

My situation gives me certain ideas about beauty or the excitement of life, but that doesn't mean other people can necessarily appreciate it.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Mean Quotes , Ideas Quotes

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.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Real Quotes , Thinking Quotes

I was an illegal alien for many, many years. I couldn't move. If I moved I could not even get a visa back.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Moving Quotes , Years Quotes

I loved New York — every inch of it. It was a little bit scary at that time, but still, the excitement was so strong — visually and intellectually. It was like a monster.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Strong Quotes , New York 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

For me, it is OK as long as I can breathe, as long as my heart is pumping, as long as I can express myself.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Heart Quotes , Long Quotes

I don't think my father had a direct influence on me, but I do think, more or less, I was influenced by his independent individualism. And the kind of condition he had when he was in this society - the kind of mistreatment society gave him.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Father Quotes , Independent Quotes

Once I was in New York, I completely had no interest for a long time in what happened in China because I had been through so much. Seeing my father's life struggle and so many whole generations lose their potential or possibility in their lives. Just being pushed into this political struggle and the damage done not only to their lives but their relatives.

6 years ago

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

Twitter is most suitable for me. In the Chinese language, 140 characters is a novella.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Character Quotes , Chinese Quotes

I remember one little rainy day I went searching for this apartment and I saw so many people standing on a stoop on the corner in the rain. Later I realized, that was drug traffic. They were all buying drugs.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Rain Quotes , People Quotes

Somehow, we [ Tan Dun and director Chen Kaige] were all privileged at the time; we could be outside of China. But at the moment, we had no sense of what the future was going to be like.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Directors Quotes , Moments Quotes

China didn't want to lose the cutting edge of technology. So the idea of having a Sina Weibo was an attempt to compete with Twitter. However, it has no soul - which is freedom of expression. Nevertheless, I think the government regrets having Sina Weibo, but they cannot shut it down. That would definitely be suicidal.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Regret Quotes , Suicidal Quotes

The American experience influenced my understanding of individuality, basic human rights, freedom of expression and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Responsibility Quotes , Rights Quotes

Even if there have been setbacks during these past years, China is changing. China's society is opening.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Past Quotes , Years Quotes

Only with the Internet can a peasant I have never met hear my voice and I can learn what's on his mind. A fairy tale has come true.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Voice Quotes , Mind Quotes

We move so fast that memory is something we can only grasp

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Memories Quotes

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.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Beautiful Quotes , Mean Quotes

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.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , People Quotes , Effort Quotes

Maybe [success] is because I'm in China and I'm more open. Maybe it's my independent behavior, or because I participated in certain projects. I have no idea.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Independent Quotes , Ideas Quotes

I think it’s a responsibility for any artist to protect freedom of expression and to use any way to extend this power.

6 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Responsibility Quotes , Artist Quotes