---
title: "17 Years Quotes By Ai Weiwei"
description: "17 Years quotes by Ai Weiwei. Plus more from Ai Weiwei and more Years sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/ai-weiwei-824_art_each-year-more-people-want-to-become-art_1818076.png"
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> [Each year, more people want to become artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/each-year-more-people-want-to-become-artists/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/ai-weiwei-824_art_each-year-more-people-want-to-become-art_1818076.png)

> [For years, I refused to go to any openings, not even my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/for-years-i-refused-to-go-to-any-openings-not-even-my-own/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/ai-weiwei-824_my-own_for-years-i-refused-to-go-to-any-opening_691921.png)

> [ The society was so different \[in China\] - it was a feudalistic society. It didn't come to a point of industrial revolution… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-society-was-so-different-in-china-it-was-a-feudalistic-society-it/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/ai-weiwei-824_china_the-society-was-so-different-in-china-it_2965691.png)

> [ The \[China\] government has improved in the last years. Of course, the structure is still the same; there's still a one-party system… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-china-government-has-improved-in-the-last-years-of-course-the/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/ai-weiwei-824_censorship_the-china-government-has-improved-in-the_1380227.png)

> [Even if there have been setbacks during these past years, China is changing. China's society is opening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/even-if-there-have-been-setbacks-during-these-past-years-china-is/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/ai-weiwei-824_china_even-if-there-have-been-setbacks-during_141173.png)

> [In China, we don't have any contemporary art museums. Until a few years ago, we didn't even have a gallery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/in-china-we-don-t-have-any-contemporary-art-museums-until-a-few-years/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/ai-weiwei-824_art_in-china-we-don-t-have-any-contemporary_2383686.png)

> [I was an illegal alien for many, many years. I couldn't move. If I moved I could not even get a visa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-was-an-illegal-alien-for-many-many-years-i-couldn-t-move-if-i-moved/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/ai-weiwei-824_aliens_i-was-an-illegal-alien-for-many-many-yea_1819402.png)

> [When I first got into the first-year study after the Cultural Revolution, got into the same school with this group, I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/when-i-first-got-into-the-first-year-study-after-the-cultural/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/ai-weiwei-824_conditions_when-i-first-got-into-the-first-year-stu_1144260.jpg)

> [So maybe there are three parts in my life - earlier background living in exile in Xinjiang in a very political circumstance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/so-maybe-there-are-three-parts-in-my-life-earlier-background-living/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/ai-weiwei-824_background_so-maybe-there-are-three-parts-in-my-lif_859413.png)

> [The museums used to be exhibition halls for government propaganda, and now every city wants to build a museum. A few thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-museums-used-to-be-exhibition-halls-for-government-propaganda-and/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/ai-weiwei-824_artist_the-museums-used-to-be-exhibition-halls_2738845.jpg)

> [This week, the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/this-week-the-world-gathers-in-beijing-for-the-2008-olympic-games/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/ai-weiwei-824_beijing_this-week-the-world-gathers-in-beijing-f_689702.jpg)

> [At the moment about 350,000 students return to China from abroad each year - 350,000 young and educated people. I know about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/at-the-moment-about-350-000-students-return-to-china-from-abroad-each/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/ai-weiwei-824_ask-me_at-the-moment-about-350-000-students-ret_2642953.png)

> [Many people I know - writers, poets - they have all been sentenced not once but sometimes three times after they come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/many-people-i-know-writers-poets-they-have-all-been-sentenced-not/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/ai-weiwei-824_another-time_many-people-i-know-writers-poets-they-ha_646609.jpg)

> [Widespread state control over art and culture has left no room for freedom of expression in the country. For more than 60…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/widespread-state-control-over-art-and-culture-has-left-no-room-for/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/ai-weiwei-824_ambiguity_widespread-state-control-over-art-and-cu_1352195.jpg)

> [The leadership knows that you cannot solve the issues of China's future with the means of the past. The demographic consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-leadership-knows-that-you-cannot-solve-the-issues-of-china-s/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/ai-weiwei-824_children_the-leadership-knows-that-you-cannot-sol_1626546.png)

> [I'm doing quite a few things now. In one day, I will go to Kassel, Germany, for a documentary project I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-m-doing-quite-a-few-things-now-in-one-day-i-will-go-to-kassel/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/ai-weiwei-824_art_i-m-doing-quite-a-few-things-now-in-one_1425536.jpg)

> [I was in the most restricted prison in China, the most tough. The design of the prison is modeled for internal crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-was-in-the-most-restricted-prison-in-china-the-most-tough-the/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/ai-weiwei-824_china_i-was-in-the-most-restricted-prison-in-c_1444598.png)

## Other authors on Years

## More by Ai Weiwei

> [I'm totally independent. I don't bear any responsibility to any system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-m-totally-independent-i-don-t-bear-any-responsibility-to-any-system/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [If my art has nothing to do with people's pain and sorrow, what is 'art' for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/if-my-art-has-nothing-to-do-with-people-s-pain-and-sorrow-what-is-art/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [China has a rich history that has spanned millennia. It consists of the histories of many nations and regions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/china-has-a-rich-history-that-has-spanned-millennia-it-consists-of/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [This world should be much more open and should be much more free, so the young people would have the chance to exercise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/this-world-should-be-much-more-open-and-should-be-much-more-free-so/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [By participating in the society we live in, we understand our conditions and the way we relate to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/by-participating-in-the-society-we-live-in-we-understand-our/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-see-the-beijing-national-stadium-as-an-architectural-project-i/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two different sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-think-we-cannot-have-a-double-standard-we-cannot-see-our-art-as/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/it-doesn-t-matter-where-i-am-china-will-stay-in-me-i-don-t-know-how/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/chinese-citizens-have-never-had-the-right-to-really-express-their/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/your-own-acts-tell-the-world-who-you-are-and-what-kind-of-society-you/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [Our lives are bound by physical limits, familial ties, political conditions, and geographical restrictions. Individual freedom takes us beyond them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/our-lives-are-bound-by-physical-limits-familial-ties-political/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/now-i-ve-come-to-such-a-mixed-culture-america-europe-south-america/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-don-t-think-it-s-worth-discussing-new-directions-in-the-context-of/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

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                        "text": "So maybe there are three parts in my life - earlier background living in exile in Xinjiang in a very political circumstance, then later the United States from 24 to 36 years old. I was quite equipped with liberal thinking. Then the Internet. If there is no Internet, of course, I cannot really exercise my opinion or my ideas.",
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                        "text": "The museums used to be exhibition halls for government propaganda, and now every city wants to build a museum. A few thousand are to be built in the next few years, all using taxpayer money. But there is no system, no research, no content, no good programs, no good managers.",
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                        "text": "This week, the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of for 100 years. People have been longing for this moment, because it symbolises a turning point in China's relationship with the outside world.",
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                        "text": "At the moment about 350,000 students return to China from abroad each year - 350,000 young and educated people. I know about them because they know me and often ask me in the street if they can take a selfie with me. These folks are creative and ironic, and the government can ultimately not control what is going on in their heads.",
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                        "text": "Many people I know - writers, poets - they have all been sentenced not once but sometimes three times after they come out. They serve five or six years, come out another time, and then nine years. Come out again, 12 years. Only because they have a different opinion. They are innocent people, they have beautiful minds, beautiful hearts.",
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                        "text": "Widespread state control over art and culture has left no room for freedom of expression in the country. For more than 60 years, anyone with a dissenting opinion has been suppressed. Chinese art is merely a product: it avoids any meaningful engagement. There is no larger context. Its only purpose is to charm viewers with its ambiguity.",
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                        "text": "The leadership knows that you cannot solve the issues of China's future with the means of the past. The demographic consequences of the one-child policy, the build-up of the welfare state, the jobs for 7 million university graduates every year, the immense corruption: Even some Western governments would have to scramble to find solutions to such problems.",
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                        "text": "I'm doing quite a few things now. In one day, I will go to Kassel, Germany, for a documentary project I've been preparing for half a year. I will bring 1,001 Chinese to participate as my artwork there - any Chinese who is a Chinese passport holder and over eighteen years old could apply through my blog. I'm just bringing them to Kassel to see the art show, and pay their room and board.",
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                        "text": "I was in the most restricted prison in China, the most tough. The design of the prison is modeled for internal crimes of the Communist party, so it's like a mafia family's law. It's independent to the law this nation openly applies. It's the place they take you before they give you over to the judicial system. You stay there for a year or two and they make you really suffer to confess everything.",
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