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Ai Weiwei Quotes


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Quotes by Ai Weiwei

Showing 11-20 of 46 Quotes by Ai Weiwei

The Chinese art world does not exist. In a society that restricts individual freedoms and violates human rights, anything that calls itself creative or independent is a pretence. It is impossible for a totalitarian society to create anything with passion and imagination.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: Anything Art Art World Calls Chinese Create Creative Does Exist Freedoms Human Human Rights Imagination Impossible Independent Individual Itself Passion Pretence Rights Society Totalitarian Violates World

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Recently I danced in a video spoof of the song 'Gangnam Style,' and it was quickly banned across multiple Chinese online video platforms. But the story still traveled all over the world, carried in hundreds of international media reports.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: Across Banned Carried Chinese Danced Hundreds International Media Multiple Online Over Platforms Quickly Recently Reports Song Still Story Style Traveled Video World

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We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more efficient. That is very short-sighted. China looks efficient only because it can sacrifice most people's rights. This is not something the west should be happy about.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: About Authoritarian Be Happy Because China Countries Criticise Democracy Efficient Even Happy Like Looks More Most Only People Rights Sacrifice Say See Short-Sighted Should Something Sometimes Tendency Very West World

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I'm most embarrassed at my art shows, even though I don't show it.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: Art Embarrassed Even Most Show Shows Though

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To survive, China had to open up to the West. It could not survive otherwise. This was after many millions have died of hunger in a country that was like North Korea is today. Once we became part of global competition, we had to agree to some rules. It's painful, but we had to. Otherwise there was no way to survive.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: After Agree Became China Competition Could Country Died Global Had Hunger Korea Like Many Millions North North Korea Once Open Otherwise Painful Part Rules Some Survive To Survive Today Up Way West

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Twitter was like a poem. It was rich, real and spontaneous. It really fit my style. In a year and a half, I tweeted 60,000 tweets, over 100,000 words. I spent a minimum eight hours a day on it, sometimes 24 hours.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: Day Eight Fit Half Hours Like Minimum Over Poem Real Really Rich Sometimes Spent Spontaneous Style Tweets Twitter Words Year 24 Hours

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A nation that has no music and no fairytales is a tragedy.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: Music Nation Tragedy

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People are always wondering if I am an artist or political activist or politician. Maybe I'll just clearly tell you: Whatever I do is not art. Let's say it is just objects or materials, movies or writing, but not art, OK?

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: Activist Always Am Art Artist Clearly Just Materials Maybe Movies Objects Ok People Political Politician Say Tell Whatever Wondering Writing You I Am

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Now the British are coming. I think Cameron should ask the Chinese government not to make people 'disappear' or to jail them merely because they have different opinions.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: Ask Because British Cameron Chinese Coming Different Different Opinions Disappear Government Jail Make Merely Now Opinions People Should Them Think I Think

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For all the tough talk about China during the presidential debates, Romney and Obama evaded any mention of China's suspect human rights record, corruption, and rule of law. By not tackling these controversial topics, the candidates are protecting a strategic partnership with China at the expense of essential human values and beliefs.

~Ai Weiwei

Topics: About Any Beliefs Candidates China Controversial Corruption Debates Essential Expense Human Human Rights Human Values Law Mention Obama Partnership Presidential Protecting Record Rights Romney Rule Rule Of Law Strategic Suspect Tackling Talk Topics Tough Values

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Biography

Nationality: Chinese

Type: Artist

Born: May 18th, 1957

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