People Quotes by Ai Weiwei

The people who control culture in China have no culture.

— Ai Weiwei

I want people to see their own power.

— Ai Weiwei

Each year, more people want to become artists.

— Ai Weiwei

Twitter is the people’s tool, the tool of the ordinary people, people who have no other resources.

— Ai Weiwei

Behind every political deal in this country, the first casualties are always the ordinary people, who are barely treated as human.

— Ai Weiwei

If people are being abused or even killed during an arrest, this is highly disturbing.

— Ai Weiwei

Artists are the worst [people]. They are selfish, self-centred; they don't care what happens.

— Ai Weiwei

I don't belong to a working system. They only select people if you belong to one so you can be controlled.

— Ai Weiwei

I have people working together, doing different things: architecture, art installation, photography, publishing, and curatorial works and design.

— Ai Weiwei

I hope that my work expresses my worldview and encourages people to exchange ideas.

— Ai Weiwei

It's always the rich and there's plenty to waste, yet still China has a lot of people living in very spare, poor…

— Ai Weiwei

China is an old nation with a colourful history. Its booming economy has triggered an appetite and a curiosity around the world…

— Ai Weiwei

You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are…

— Ai Weiwei

I will never leave China, unless I am forced to. Because China is mine. I will not leave something that belongs to…

— Ai Weiwei

Any politician who respects China's government should tell it openly what is in his heart. It is disrespectful to keep quiet about…

— Ai Weiwei

People are always wondering if I am an artist or political activist or politician. Maybe I'll just clearly tell you: Whatever I…

— Ai Weiwei

Mass production is nothing new. Weren't cathedrals built through mass production? The pyramids?... Paintings can be painted with the left hand, the…

— Ai Weiwei

Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the…

— Ai Weiwei

The IT people who have made such an effort to know and understand computer technology. They are frustrated that you cannot use…

— Ai Weiwei

To experience poetry is to see over and above reality. It is to discover that which is beyond the physical, to experience…

— Ai Weiwei

My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is…

— Ai Weiwei

If it's possible, I will have some noodles in the morning and start talking to people, start to think about a few…

— Ai Weiwei

I think to deal with the situation like human crisis, 65 million people being displaced, lost their home, and with such human…

— Ai Weiwei

Any individual can contribute its own belief. And our society or even our government are made by the people. The people would…

— Ai Weiwei

We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more…

— Ai Weiwei

Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to…

— Ai Weiwei

If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it,…

— Ai Weiwei

I deal with students every day - from China, Germany, the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan. And I've noticed that the…

— Ai Weiwei

This world should be much more open and should be much more free, so the young people would have the chance to…

— Ai Weiwei

Many people are going to use [Beijing National Stadium], which makes it more meaningful. If we don't design it, somebody else has…

— Ai Weiwei

I always want people to be confused, to be shocked or realize something later.

— Ai Weiwei

It's always nice to share your energy with young people, the people who might not have any skills but are simply willing…

— Ai Weiwei

These are nonviolent people who have lost their freedom simply because they expressed their ideas… In truth, they are heroes of our…

— Ai Weiwei

I always admire writers. My father was a writer, a poet. I always admire people who can clearly state their mind.

— Ai Weiwei

[Being unique] gives so much privilege to people who can make it, rather than having some moral and aesthetic discussions.

— Ai Weiwei

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

— Ai Weiwei

[Cultural departments] don't care about culture. Maybe they're the furthest from the people who understand culture.

— Ai Weiwei

Hopefully, other successes aren't like me. It carries much more meaning to other people; my success story is irrelevant. It doesn't make…

— Ai Weiwei

If my art has nothing to do with people's pain and sorrow, what is 'art' for?

— Ai Weiwei

I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial.

— Ai Weiwei