If artists cannot speak up for human dignity or rights, then who else will do it? Ai Weiwei More Quotes by Ai Weiwei More Quotes From Ai Weiwei We should also leave behind discrimination, because it is narrow-minded and ignorant, denies contact and warmth; and corrodes mankind's belief that we can better ourselves. The only way to avoid misunderstanding, war and bloodshed is to defend freedom of expression and to communicate with sincerity, concern and good intentions. Ai Weiwei ignorant expression war I’m an artist who is always looking for what is possible. I’m always looking to extend the boundaries. Ai Weiwei artist boundaries China restricts the society's freedom of speech. The Communist Party imposes these limits because it lacks confidence towards the future and has no ideals. Nowadays, China is experiencing the detrimental effects of such decisions. Its citizens have no creativity. Ai Weiwei creativity party decision The tragic reality of today is reflected in the true plight of our spiritual existence. We are spineless and cannot stand straight. Ai Weiwei plight spiritual reality I think art is a very important weapon to achieve human freedom Ai Weiwei important art thinking The misconception of totalitarianism is that freedom can be imprisoned. This is not the case. When you constrain freedom, freedom will take flight and land on a windowsill. Ai Weiwei flight cases land The so-called culture nowadays is only a fake one with a superficial front. It is an empty lie. Ai Weiwei fake culture lying If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it, I become singled out, even though what I'm saying is common sense. It's very essential values that we all have to protect. But in Chinese society, people are giving up on protecting these values. Ai Weiwei giving-up government thinking I have to respect my life, and free expression is part of my life. I can never really silence myself. Ai Weiwei free-expression silence expression 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. Ai Weiwei powerful people looks I think everybody deserves freedom. Freedom is such an abstract word, but it's all we need. Ai Weiwei art needs thinking I think by not letting young people be fully informed, how can they have energy and passion and the right picture of the world? I think that's the true crime. Ai Weiwei passion people thinking By participating in the society we live in, we understand our conditions and the way we relate to the world. Ai Weiwei relate way world The Internet is uncontrollable. And if the Internet is uncontrollable, freedom will win. It's as simple as that. Ai Weiwei internet simple winning Everyone of us is a potential convict. Ai Weiwei convicts To express yourself needs a reason, but expressing yourself is the reason. Ai Weiwei express-yourself reason needs 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 fields desire past I think by shattering it we can create a new form, a new way to look at what is valuable — how we decide what is valuable. Ai Weiwei looks way thinking I am very much interested in the so-called useless object. I mean, it takes perfect craftsmanship, beautiful material carefully measured and crafted, but at the same time it’s really useless. Ai Weiwei perfect beautiful mean The American experience influenced my understanding of individuality, basic human rights, freedom of expression and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Ai Weiwei responsibility expression rights
