Man has a tendency to try to give clear reasons to be rational, but often you can see how all those reasons are not convincing and turn out to be a big nonsense. Ai Weiwei More Quotes by Ai Weiwei More Quotes From Ai Weiwei Twitter is the people’s tool, the tool of the ordinary people, people who have no other resources. Ai Weiwei tools ordinary people If Shakespeare were alive today, he might be writing on Twitter. Ai Weiwei live-for-today alive writing I don’t want the next generation to fight the same fight as I did. Ai Weiwei generations fighting want No matter what happens, nothing can prevent the historical process by which society demands freedom and democracy. Ai Weiwei demand democracy historical The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008. During the earthquake many schools collapsed. Thousands of young students lost their lives, and you could see bags and study material everywhere. Then you realize individual life, media, and the lives of the students are serving very different purposes. The lives of the students disappeared within the state propaganda, and very soon everybody will forget everything. Ai Weiwei forget-everything media school Twitter is most suitable for me. In the Chinese language, 140 characters is a novella. Ai Weiwei chinese language character Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world it is more dangerous. In the west people think it's a right they're born with. Here it's a right given by the government, and one that's not really practised. Ai Weiwei government real thinking China has not established the rule of law and if there is a power above the law there is no social justice. Everybody can be subjected to harm. I'm just a citizen: my life is equal in value to any other. But I'm thankful that when I lost my freedom so many people shared feelings and put such touching effort into helping me. Ai Weiwei law justice people China is an old nation with a colourful history. Its booming economy has triggered an appetite and a curiosity around the world for its art and culture, one that continues to grow. I can, however, tell people that it is a show with no actor. Ai Weiwei curiosity people art I'm most embarrassed at my art shows, even though I don't show it. Ai Weiwei embarrassed shows art If a nation cannot face its past, it has no future. Ai Weiwei nations faces past In an environment without public platform nor protection, the individual is the most powerful and most responsible. Ai Weiwei protection environment powerful Art is always about overcoming obstacles between the inner condition and the skill for expression. Ai Weiwei skills expression art My work is always a ready-made... cultural, political, or social, and also it could be art - to make people re-look at what we have done, its original position, to create new possibilities. Ai Weiwei political people art Once you've tasted freedom, it stays in your heart... Ai Weiwei throat Art needs to stand for something. Ai Weiwei stand-for-something art needs 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. Ai Weiwei china limits matter 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. Ai Weiwei effort community people 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. Ai Weiwei nice people thinking My situation gives me certain ideas about beauty or the excitement of life, but that doesn't mean other people can necessarily appreciate it. Ai Weiwei mean people ideas
