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Beijing is constructing a 100,000 m2 modern art museum, yet it will not feature any of my work.

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
Art
Work
Constructing
Beijing
Museum
Feature
Museums
Features
Modern

More quotes by Ai Weiwei

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The whole Chinese system - not just the political leadership, the military too, the whole power structure, our education system, the whole of society - is suffering from being cut off from the free flow of information. That's why the country can't face up to open competition - unless it resorts to measures like North Korea.
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Art is always about overcoming obstacles between the inner condition and the skill for expression.
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My typical day is I wake up and appreciate that I can still wake up.
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I remember one little rainy day I went searching for this apartment and I saw so many people standing on a stoop on the corner in the rain. Later I realized, that was drug traffic. They were all buying drugs.
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China and the U.S. are two societies with very different attitudes towards opinion and criticism. In China, I am constantly under surveillance. Even my slightest, most innocuous move can - and often is - censored by Chinese authorities.
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A lot of the time [in the U.S.], I was thinking about how spending time is always questionable or is always the biggest obstacle in my life.
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I'm most embarrassed at my art shows, even though I don't show it.
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Life is never guaranteed to be safe, so we better use it while we are still in good condition.
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I always admire writers. My father was a writer, a poet. I always admire people who can clearly state their mind.
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Liberty is about our rights to question everything.
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I think it's more important to show your work to the public.
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In my life, I often make so-called major decisions by very quick, immediate responses.
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I don't think China should care if this crazy old guy should have a show here or not. You have so many museums in the West, and so many shows, you need somebody to show the work, otherwise it's empty.
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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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After I came back [to China], there was still a long period of time when I felt I had nothing to do.
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I think my stance and my way of life is my most important art.
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If you just turn to your paper or television each day, there are thousands of stories that are much more shocking than the gallery artworks.
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It's always nice to share your energy with young people, the people who might not have any skills but are simply willing to be a part of it.
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Creativity is the power to reject the past, to change the status quo, and to seek new potential. Simply put, aside from using one's imagination - perhaps more importantly - creativity is the power to act.
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I will never leave China, unless I am forced to. Because China is mine. I will not leave something that belongs to me in the hands of people I do not trust.
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