The relationship between the Chinese government and me is like a Cold War. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
To the media, I have become a symbolic figure, critical of China. According to the government, I am a dangerous threat. — 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
The [China] government has improved in the last years. Of course, the structure is still the same; there's still a one-party system… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Everyone thinks the Chinese government selected me. Never ever. I was selected by Herzog and de Meuron. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
When human beings are scared and feel everything is exposed to the government, we will censor ourselves from free thinking. That's dangerous… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Chinese government is very clearly losing power in every aspect, but trying to fix up all the problems or potential problems. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
To work in architecture you are so much involved with society, with politics, with bureaucrats. It's a very complicated process to do… — 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
My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression […] I don’t think anybody can separate… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Otherwise, I think the building can be bigger, larger, and the city can be much more crazy. The problem is the government… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
It is not an easy job to govern China, I am aware of that. There are crises and emergencies all the time,… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
The museums used to be exhibition halls for government propaganda, and now every city wants to build a museum. A few thousand… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Of course, there [in China] has to be chaos. It has to be crazy, and I don't think there's anything wrong about… — 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
Now I've come to such a mixed culture: America, Europe, South America, Africa. And the politics are changing everywhere all the time… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
The leadership knows that you cannot solve the issues of China's future with the means of the past. The demographic consequences of… — 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 should use this public sphere and redefine - beyond China's borders - what a government is allowed to do, where its… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Now the British are coming. I think Cameron should ask the Chinese government not to make people 'disappear' or to jail them… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it,… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
Everything is selected by the central government without good judgment or an understanding of culture to make it really safe. They will… — 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
Nationality started as something natural, but we should not be restrained by the old politics that make up these clear lines. It… — 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
We never really see the global situation as a total situation. Today's political leaders are still lacking of the vision. They very… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
If my art has nothing to do with people's pain and sorrow, what is 'art' for? — 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 Image
China has a rich history that has spanned millennia. It consists of the histories of many nations and regions. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
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 Image
By participating in the society we live in, we understand our conditions and the way we relate to the world. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
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 Image
I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. — 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 different sets… — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be. — Ai Weiwei Copy Share Image
![“The [China] government has improved in the last years. Of course, the structure is still the same; there's still a one-party system and strong censorship.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e91/ai-weiwei-824_censorship_the-china-government-has-improved-in-the_1380227.jpg)
![“My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression […] I don’t think anybody can separate art from politics. The intention to separate [the two] is itself a very political intention.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f07/ai-weiwei-824_art_my-definition-of-art-has-always-been-the_1900659.jpg)
![“Of course, there [in China] has to be chaos. It has to be crazy, and I don't think there's anything wrong about it except this government, which is really incapable of doing anything meaningful.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23b/ai-weiwei-824_being-crazy_of-course-there-in-china-has-to-be-chaos_1826242.jpg)
![“I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/886/ai-weiwei-824_controversial_i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i_66816.jpg)
