If my art has nothing to do with people's pain and sorrow, what is 'art' for? — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I always want to design a frame that’s open to everyone. I don’t see art as a secret code. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I'm always interested in people who are not orientated in art circles to become part of it. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
To call yourself a Chinese artist or woman artist or African artist reflects a certain kind of condition. To me, that is… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I have people working together, doing different things: architecture, art installation, photography, publishing, and curatorial works and design. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
All the rich people collect traditional Chinese art. So it's very natural for Chinese families to still see art as the highest… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I think art certainly is the vehicle for us to develop any new ideas, to be creative, to extend our imagination, to… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
As a person, I was born to give out my opinions. By giving out my opinions, I realize who I am. As… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I don't think it's worth discussing new directions in the context of Chinese art - there were no old directions, either. Chinese… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
To protect the right of expression is the central part of an artist's activity... In China many essential rights are lacking, and… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Art should live in the heart of the people. Ordinary people should have the same ability to understand art as anybody else.… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
So-called Chinese art and culture is under control of the Party. They exist to serve the official agenda. I call it fake… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I think of art as coming from daily life, daily experience. I think it's very important not to have it become work… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Just look at the statistics: Each university has tens of thousands of applications for students who want to be in art school,… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
As a total activity - I practice curating, art, architecture, writing, and publishing all together. I still act as a living creature. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
If there is no freedom of expression, then the beauty of life is lost. Participation in a society is not an artistic… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I'm not a writer, but today I think you have to be everything. As an artist you have an obligation to let… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
My work is always a ready-made... cultural, political, or social, and also it could be art - to make people re-look at… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
China has a rich history that has spanned millennia. It consists of the histories of many nations and regions. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
This world should be much more open and should be much more free, so the young people would have the chance to exercise the… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
By participating in the society we live in, we understand our conditions and the way we relate to the world. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design, and our… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two different sets… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
It doesn't matter where I am - China will stay in me. I don't know how far I can still walk on this road… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
Our lives are bound by physical limits, familial ties, political conditions, and geographical restrictions. Individual freedom takes us beyond them all. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
Now I've come to such a mixed culture: America, Europe, South America, Africa. And the politics are changing everywhere all the time and becoming… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
I don't think it's worth discussing new directions in the context of Chinese art - there were no old directions, either. Chinese art has… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share
