Quote

I think it’s a responsibility for any artist to protect freedom of expression and to use any way to extend this power.

Ai Weiwei

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Ai Weiwei
Age: 67
Born: 1957
Born: May 18
Architect
Consultant
Contemporary Artist
Designer
Film Director
Human Rights Activist
Painter
Photographer
Sculptor
Social Activist
Peking
Wei-wei Ai
Weiwei Ai
Ai Wei Wei
Artist
Power
Way
Extend
Think
Protect
Thinking
Expression
Responsibility
Freedom
Use

More quotes by Ai Weiwei

Image
I never really read Allen Ginsberg poetry, even though I have a book he gave me.
Ai Weiwei
Image
The misconception of totalitarianism is that freedom can be imprisoned. This is not the case. When you constrain freedom, freedom will take flight and land on a windowsill.
Ai Weiwei
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 it is more dangerous. In the west people think it's a right they're born with. Here it's a right given by the government, and one that's not really practised.
Ai Weiwei
Image
The whole attitude of society has become much more open and realistic. They realize that the only way to make a more democratic and free society is to let different opinions come out.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Imagine one day, the hateful world around you collapses. And it is your attitude, words and actions that put an end to it. Will you be excited?
Ai Weiwei
Image
Life is never guaranteed to be safe, so we better use it while we are still in good condition.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Self-censorship is insulting to the self. Timidity is a hopeless way forward.
Ai Weiwei
Image
It's really rubbish that some kind of technical learning means you will be a better person because you know this skill better.
Ai Weiwei
Image
A nation that has no music and no fairytales is a tragedy.
Ai Weiwei
Image
The purpose of art is the fight for freedom.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Because Great Britain has self-confidence, it doesn't need a monumental Olympics.
Ai Weiwei
Image
What counts in the end is what the government does.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Civilization has evolved toward more acceptance, understanding and tolerance of global thinking. If we accept differences, our creativity booms. It makes life much more colorful. It also makes humanity much more safe. If we see pureness somewhere as something to be desired, the trouble starts.
Ai Weiwei
Image
China has not established the rule of law and if there is a power above the law there is no social justice. Everybody can be subjected to harm. I'm just a citizen: my life is equal in value to any other. But I'm thankful that when I lost my freedom so many people shared feelings and put such touching effort into helping me.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I hope that my work expresses my worldview and encourages people to exchange ideas.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I think everybody deserves freedom. Freedom is such an abstract word, but it's all we need.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Just look at the statistics: Each university has tens of thousands of applications for students who want to be in art school, but they can only accept a few hundred.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Freedom of speech implies the world isn’t defined. It is meaningful when people are allowed to see the world their way.
Ai Weiwei
Image
[Being unique] gives so much privilege to people who can make it, rather than having some moral and aesthetic discussions.
Ai Weiwei
Image
[Cultural department] understand nothing but bureaucratic daily affairs. They don't care about culture.
Ai Weiwei