If people are being abused or even killed during an arrest, this is highly disturbing. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Behind every political deal in this country, the first casualties are always the ordinary people, who are barely treated as human. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
You see so many people doing quite nice and respectful work, but nobody like Warhol. Warhol is outstanding. I think he has… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I don't believe in the so-called Olympic spirit. I speak from personal experience. When China hosted the Games, it failed to include… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Politics is like air and water. And you know if there is bad politics. Everyone is polluted. Everyone is unhealthy. See the… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
We live in changing times, and many people experience the challenges that come with it. In the face of uncertain futures, no… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I also have to speak out for people around me who are afraid, who think it is not worth it or who… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
China partially wants to become part of the world. By hosting the Olympics and the Expo, they made a big effort to… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
This week, the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I think by not letting young people be fully informed, how can they have energy and passion and the right picture of… — 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… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I think to deal with the situation like human crisis, 65 million people being displaced, lost their home, and with such human… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Any individual can contribute its own belief. And our society or even our government are made by the people. The people would… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
To experience poetry is to see over and above reality. It is to discover that which is beyond the physical, to experience… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
The motivation is really to say people can find the game of getting involved interesting and find the problem and really have… — 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
The 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium, which I helped to conceive, is designed to embody the Olympic spirit of 'fair competition.' It tells… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
My image of what a city should be - the super-rich and all the poor and desperate and the people who have… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Beijing's Olympics were very grand - they were trying to throw a party for the world, but the hosts didn't enjoy it.… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
The IT people who have made such an effort to know and understand computer technology. They are frustrated that you cannot use… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I remember one little rainy day I went searching for this apartment and I saw so many people standing on a stoop… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Today, the general masses in this society are in this political-social condition that really encourages people to become rich and become a… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Of course, people will call you an old artist or young artist, which is just a character of you. But personally, I… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
I'm not nostalgic about the old city. I don't enjoy it that much. It was just a city with one emperor 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
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
In a society like this there is no negotiation, no discussion, except to tell you that power can crush you any time… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
China is an old nation with a colourful history. Its booming economy has triggered an appetite and a curiosity around the world… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
I will never leave China, unless I am forced to. Because China is mine. I will not leave something that belongs to… — 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
