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I spent a lot of time standing on street corners [of New York City] talking to local residents. I spent time in bookstores and galleries. But most of the time, I really did not have much to do.

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
Spent
Much
Street
Galleries
Really
York
Bookstores
Time
Standing
Residents
City
Gallery
Streets
Locals
Local
Cities
Corners
Talking

More quotes by Ai Weiwei

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Dont retreat. Retweet!
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My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression. I don’t think anybody can separate art from politics. The intention to separate [the two] is itself a very political intention.
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Once you've tasted freedom, it stays in your heart...
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...photographs are facts, but not necessarily true... The present always surpasses the past, and the future will not care about today.
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It became like a symbolic thing, to be “an artist.” After Duchamp, I realized that being an artist is more about a lifestyle and attitude than producing some product.
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It is not an easy job to govern China, I am aware of that. There are crises and emergencies all the time, we might not even be aware of some. But I am afraid we'll have to wait and observe precisely what the government is up to.
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My childhood was quite extreme. Sometimes I was so weak I could not stand up. But now I am so strong. Life is unpredictable
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If a master, a wise and experienced man, wields a great weapon, that's beautiful. He can serve peace with it. But if someone's emotions are imbalanced, even if he has the best equipment, he will still mean danger. Modern technology requires calm. You shouldn't trust anyone with a car who has no knowledge about vehicles or roads.
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The practice of photography is no longer a means for recording reality. Instead, it has become reality itself
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Artists are the worst [people]. They are selfish, self-centred they don't care what happens.
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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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To work in architecture you are so much involved with society, with politics, with bureaucrats. It's a very complicated process to do large projects. You start to see the society, how it functions, how it works. Then you have a lot of criticism about how it works.
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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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Behind every political deal in this country, the first casualties are always the ordinary people, who are barely treated as human.
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I want people to see their own power.
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It is not an easy job to govern China, I am aware of that.
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For artists and intellectuals today, what is most needed is to be clear about social responsibility, because that is what most people automatically give up. Just to protect yourself as an individual is very political. You don't have to march on Tiananmen, but you do have to be clear-minded, to find your own means of expression.
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China seems unpredictable because it has a distinct culture and social system. It is still a mystery to other parts of the world, even though the veil of China has been lifted many times as a result of globalization.
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You see so many people doing quite nice and respectful work, but nobody like Warhol. Warhol is outstanding. I think he has a value that is far from fully understood. He's very special for younger generations.
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I have to find a place for my own. I have to search for my own happiness.
Ai Weiwei