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Self-censorship is insulting to the self. Timidity is a hopeless way forward.
Ai Weiwei
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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
Hopeless
Forward
Self
Way
Timidity
Insulting
Censorship
More quotes by Ai Weiwei
I also have to speak out for people around me who are afraid, who think it is not worth it or who have totally given up hope. So I want to set an example: you can do it and this is OK, to speak out.
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In a society that restricts individual freedoms and violates human rights, anything that calls itself creative or independent is a pretence. It is impossible for a totalitarian society to create anything with passion and imagination.
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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.
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I am everywhere and I am nowhere. That's the beauty of the Internet Age.
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China didn't want to lose the cutting edge of technology. So the idea of having a Sina Weibo was an attempt to compete with Twitter. However, it has no soul - which is freedom of expression. Nevertheless, I think the government regrets having Sina Weibo, but they cannot shut it down. That would definitely be suicidal.
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China hasn't only existed for one day. Now, the whole nation has become richer and it's become a problem. The problem is universal. The factor is big. Everybody has to rethink the balance of the world and the whole landscape.
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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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Overturning police cars is a super-intense workout. It’s probably the only sport I enjoy.
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If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it, I become singled out, even though what I'm saying is common sense. It's very essential values that we all have to protect. But in Chinese society, people are giving up on protecting these values.
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My mother became much older when I came out (ed's note: of detention). She had problems with her hearing and high blood pressure. But they still support me.
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New York has given me a lot, but I still don't consider it home.
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Even if there have been setbacks during these past years, China is changing. China's society is opening.
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Technology is a liberation. I think the information age probably is the best thing to happen to the human race in human evolution. Now you have the equal opportunity to equip yourself through information and knowledge and express yourself as an independent mind.
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[Being unique] gives so much privilege to people who can make it, rather than having some moral and aesthetic discussions.
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No state or society can claim to have established human rights once and for all.
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This so-called fame or being better off doesn't really attract me at all.
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I think of art as coming from daily life, daily experience. I think it's very important not to have it become work for some kind of elite circle.
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I don't think there is a distinct change, because in the West I'm not a person who can serve his purpose.
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Freedom of speech implies the world isn’t defined. It is meaningful when people are allowed to see the world their way.
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Even though everybody who looked at me would call me a Chinese artist, that's the 1980s. New York in the '80s was not so interesting. I think it's quite narrow-minded. There wasn't much encouragement or opportunities for any artist - not just Chinese artists.
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