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Art Quotes by Ai Weiwei

60 Art quotes by Ai Weiwei

All Art quotes Ai Weiwei’s page

If my art has nothing to do with people’s pain and sorrow, what is art for? Ai Weiwei argues that art cannot be judged by a different standard than reality, and that life itself is art. He also stresses that protecting the right of expression is central to an artist’s work, especially where rights are limited.

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Art needs to stand for something.

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Everything is art. Everything is politics.

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I think art is a very important weapon to achieve human freedom

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Because Chinese art is booming, it legitimizes this profession.

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I think my stance and my way of life is my most important art.

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Each year, more people want to become artists.

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Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it.

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The purpose of art is the fight for freedom,

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This so-called contemporary art is not a form, but a philosophy of society,

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If artists cannot speak up for human dignity or rights, then who else will do it?

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Beijing is constructing a 100,000 m2 modern art museum, yet it will not feature any of my work.

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

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We have to give our opinion, we have to say something, or we are a part of it. As an artist I…

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I think everybody deserves freedom. Freedom is such an abstract word, but it's all we need.

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I don't think [price] reflects if the work is good or bad.A good artist shouldn't be nervous about that.

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The art always wins. Anything can happen to me, but the art will stay.

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To protect the right of expression is the central part of an artist's activity... In China many essential rights are lacking, and…

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Art should live in the heart of the people. Ordinary people should have the same ability to understand art as anybody else.…

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So-called Chinese art and culture is under control of the Party. They exist to serve the official agenda. I call it fake…

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

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All the rich people collect traditional Chinese art. So it's very natural for Chinese families to still see art as the highest…

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I don't think it's worth discussing new directions in the context of Chinese art - there were no old directions, either. Chinese…

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I think art certainly is the vehicle for us to develop any new ideas, to be creative, to extend our imagination, to…

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As a person, I was born to give out my opinions. By giving out my opinions, I realize who I am. As…

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Of course, people will call you an old artist or young artist, which is just a character of you. But personally, I…

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

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I'm doing quite a few things now. In one day, I will go to Kassel, Germany, for a documentary project I've been…

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For artists and intellectuals today, what is most needed is to be clear about social responsibility, because that is what most people…

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The Chinese art world does not exist. In a society that restricts individual freedoms and violates human rights, anything that calls itself…

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Widespread state control over art and culture has left no room for freedom of expression in the country. For more than 60…

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Warhol came from an ordinary family and he had a profound understanding about capitalism and material culture. He was probably one of…

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I'm most embarrassed at my art shows, even though I don't show it.

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I always want to design a frame that’s open to everyone. I don’t see art as a secret code.

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I'm always interested in people who are not orientated in art circles to become part of it.

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This is a very general understanding of art in China, that being an artist can make you money and turn you into…

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I lived there [ in New York City] as an artist, but never as a Chinese artist.

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

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Being an artist is more of a mindset, a way of seeing things; it is no longer so much about producing something.

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Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it. I don’t feel that much anger. I equally have a lot of…

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In China, we don't have any contemporary art museums. Until a few years ago, we didn't even have a gallery.

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More by Ai Weiwei

I'm totally independent. I don't bear any responsibility to any system.

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

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…

China has a rich history that has spanned millennia. It consists of the histories of many nations and regions.

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

By participating in the society we live in, we understand our conditions and the way we relate to the world.

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…

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

I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two different sets…

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…

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

Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be.

Our lives are bound by physical limits, familial ties, political conditions, and geographical restrictions. Individual freedom takes us beyond them all.

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…

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…