Quote

[Cultural departments] don't care about culture. Maybe they're the furthest from the people who understand culture.

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
Departments
Cultural
Department
Maybe
Understand
Culture
Care
People
Furthest

More quotes by Ai Weiwei

Image
This is a very general understanding of art in China, that being an artist can make you money and turn you into a star.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it.
Ai Weiwei
Image
If civil society has nobody who protects the law, then what kind of society is that?
Ai Weiwei
Image
I believe [the architecture firm] Herzog and de Meuron and our collaboration made the product the best it could be.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I think art is a very important weapon to achieve human freedom
Ai Weiwei
Image
Historically, China is not a nation of sportsmen. We traditionally put more emphasis on being close to nature than pushing endlessly to excel. A philosophy that values tranquil contemplation of the landscape cannot easily be adapted to the Olympic slogan of 'higher, stronger, faster.'
Ai Weiwei
Image
The rest of the world understands little about China's changes and the possibilities and crises that come with them.
Ai Weiwei
Image
It's always the rich and there's plenty to waste, yet still China has a lot of people living in very spare, poor conditions.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I often feel more disgust than pride about this kind of success. So there's no regret whatsoever.
Ai Weiwei
Image
A city is a place that can offer maximum freedom. Otherwise it’s incomplete.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Society becomes very destructive.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I don't believe in a sense of home.
Ai Weiwei
Image
Otherwise, I think the building can be bigger, larger, and the city can be much more crazy. The problem is the government structure is so deadly stupid, not really solving problems but creating a lot of problems itself every day.
Ai Weiwei
Image
The purpose of art is the fight for freedom.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two different sets of judgment.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I loved New York — every inch of it. It was a little bit scary at that time, but still, the excitement was so strong — visually and intellectually. It was like a monster.
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
I always want people to be confused, to be shocked or realize something later.
Ai Weiwei
Image
My musician friends are banned from playing concerts in China because they share the same views as I do. My name cannot appear on the web, because my opinion is different from the Party.
Ai Weiwei
Image
I think Donald Trump should cool down a little bit. To pay more attention to the history. To really understand what U.S.'s value is about. I think, as a president, those things you always have to ask.
Ai Weiwei