Quote

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

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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
Freedom
Constrain
Take
Totalitarianism
Imprisoned
Misconception
Flight
Case
Cases
Land
Windowsill

More quotes by Ai Weiwei

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A historical property has morals and ethics of the society that created it and it can be revived. What I mean is that we can discover new possibilities from the process of dismantling, transforming, and recreating.
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We grew up in a very material-lacking socialist society, but today China is a capitalist society. It's very materialistic. It's full of desire and luxury goods.
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I also doubt a man can give really clear reasons for anything.
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What is important is that we actively express our thoughts and wishes, in every realm that we can access.
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To call yourself a Chinese artist or woman artist or African artist reflects a certain kind of condition. To me, that is not necessary.
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I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial.
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No state or society can claim to have established human rights once and for all.
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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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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.
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Because Chinese art is booming, it legitimizes this profession.
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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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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?
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If civil society has nobody who protects the law, then what kind of society is that?
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If a society cannot even support somebody like me, then people ask: Who is under protection then? That's why there is such support for me. It is not because I am so beautiful or I am so charming. People feel: This guy is fighting for us.
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I spend a lot of time talking to journalists.
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If I look at it, I would laugh. I don't know how I became successful.
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If there is no free speech, every single life has lived in vain
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I never had secure, belonging feelings with this society [in China].
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A society is healthy only when it allows its members to discuss their thoughts openly. This is also the only way that a society can gather consensus, let everyone express his or her wish, and foster creativity.
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