I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design, and our proposal won the competition. From beginning to end, I stayed with the project. I am committed to fostering relationships between a city and its architecture.

Ai Weiwei

Categorized in : Cities Design Competition

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.

creativity imagination past

My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is never about exhibiting in museums or about hanging it on the wall. Art should live in the heart of the people. Ordinary people should have the same ability to understand art as anybody else. I don’t think art is elite or mysterious. I don’t think anybody can separate art from politics. The intention to separate art from politics is itself a very political intention.

wall communication art

Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society... by Ai Weiwei

Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be.

chinese change thinking

The purpose of art is the fight for freedom. by Ai Weiwei

The purpose of art is the fight for freedom.

fighting purpose art

A small act is worth a million thoughts. by Ai Weiwei

A small act is worth a million thoughts.

wisdom wise motivational

Creativity is part of human nature. It can only be untaught. by Ai Weiwei

Creativity is part of human nature. It can only be untaught.

creativity human-nature humans

If there is no freedom of expression, then the beauty of life is lost. Participation in a society is not an artistic choice, it’s a human need.

choices expression needs

The art always wins. Anything can happen to me, but the art will... by Ai Weiwei

The art always wins. Anything can happen to me, but the art will stay.

anything-can-happen winning art

I think optimism is whether you are still exhilarated by life, whether you are curious, whether you still believe there is possibility.

optimism believe thinking

Everything is art. Everything is politics. by Ai Weiwei

Everything is art. Everything is politics.

changing-the-world world art

Being an artist is more of a mindset, a way of seeing things; it is no longer so much about producing something.

mindset artist way

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?

one-day attitude world

Maybe being powerful means to be fragile. by Ai Weiwei

Maybe being powerful means to be fragile.

recovery powerful mean

Technology is a liberation. I think the information age probably is the best thing to happen to the human race in human evolution. Now you have the equal opportunity to equip yourself through information and knowledge and express yourself as an independent mind.

independent technology opportunity

Stupidity can win for a moment, but it can never really succeed because the nature of humans is to seek freedom. Rulers can delay that freedom, but they cannot stop it.

delay stupidity winning

I think art certainly is the vehicle for us to develop any new ideas, to be creative, to extend our imagination, to change the current conditions.

ideas art thinking

The world is not changing if you don’t shoulder the burden of res... by Ai Weiwei

The world is not changing if you don’t shoulder the burden of responsibility.

burden responsibility world

We have to give our opinion, we have to say something, or we are a part of it. As an artist I am forced to say something.

opinion artist giving

I always want people to be confused, to be shocked or realize som... by Ai Weiwei

I always want people to be confused, to be shocked or realize something later.

confused want people

Liberty is about the right to question everything. by Ai Weiwei

Liberty is about the right to question everything.

liberty