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A nation like China has become one of the biggest production fields for exporting cheap labor, which also re-questions our history and past, re-questions human desire, and the human illusions of the past.

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
Human
Fields
Cheap
Humans
Nation
Production
Like
Nations
Productions
Desire
Biggest
History
China
Past
Illusion
Become
Questions
Exporting
Also
Labor
Illusions

More quotes by Ai Weiwei

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All the auction houses care about is the selling of luxury goods.
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I never really read Allen Ginsberg poetry, even though I have a book he gave me.
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[Cultural departments] don't care about culture. Maybe they're the furthest from the people who understand culture.
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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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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.
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Overturning police cars is a super-intense workout. It’s probably the only sport I enjoy.
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In the '80s, you couldn't walk in the neighborhood without looking back to see if anyone was following you. You had your key in your hand before you got to your apartment and you'd rush in so you didn't have to stop.
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The IT people who have made such an effort to know and understand computer technology. They are frustrated that you cannot use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in China. They are the first to recognize that the situation is terrible.
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No matter what happens, nothing can prevent the historical process by which society demands freedom and democracy.
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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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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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I always want people to be confused, to be shocked or realize something later.
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China partially wants to become part of the world. By hosting the Olympics and the Expo, they made a big effort to tell people: Look, we are the same. They want to be accepted by the international community.
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You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are scared of. A state like China looks so powerful, but they are so scared of the Internet, so the Internet is more powerful than them.
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It doesn't matter where I am - China will stay in me. I don't know how far I can still walk on this road and what is the limit.
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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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I'm not a writer, but today I think you have to be everything. As an artist you have an obligation to let people know what is on your mind and why you're doing this.
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The world is sphere, has no East or West.
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I don't think my father had a direct influence on me, but I do think, more or less, I was influenced by his independent individualism. And the kind of condition he had when he was in this society - the kind of mistreatment society gave him.
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I spend a lot of time talking to journalists.
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