Of course, there [in China] has to be chaos. It has to be crazy, and I don't think there's anything wrong about it except this government, which is really incapable of doing anything meaningful. Ai Weiwei More Quotes by Ai Weiwei More Quotes From Ai Weiwei Civilization has evolved toward more acceptance, understanding and tolerance of global thinking. If we accept differences, our creativity booms. It makes life much more colorful. It also makes humanity much more safe. If we see pureness somewhere as something to be desired, the trouble starts. Ai Weiwei creativity acceptance thinking I believe [the architecture firm] Herzog and de Meuron and our collaboration made the product the best it could be. Ai Weiwei collaboration architecture believe Many people are going to use [Beijing National Stadium], which makes it more meaningful. If we don't design it, somebody else has to design it. Ai Weiwei design meaningful people The United States is a melting pot. Like John F. Kennedy said, it's a nation of immigrants. But Donald Trump wants to build a fence that clearly makes the statement: "You and I are divided. We're different, and you're dangerous." That kind of thinking stops human, civilized evolution. It's dangerous to create that kind of tension. Ai Weiwei different evolution thinking I also doubt a man can give really clear reasons for anything. Ai Weiwei doubt giving men Maybe [success] is because I'm in China and I'm more open. Maybe it's my independent behavior, or because I participated in certain projects. I have no idea. Ai Weiwei independent behavior ideas I never really read Allen Ginsberg poetry, even though I have a book he gave me. Ai Weiwei ginsberg book There's no single artwork I even want to mention or that I can even really think about it to have any feeling, to be proud of it. Ai Weiwei want feelings thinking Any design, any city, any kind of craziness or tragedy, it all comes from a long time of preparation. Ai Weiwei design cities long I think the pearls - one is a necklace, and another you have five hundred pounds of pearls, which may be one million pearls in a bowl - really show a kind of [society] condition. Ai Weiwei necklaces pearls thinking The society was so different [in China] - it was a feudalistic society. It didn't come to a point of industrial revolution until twenty years ago. Ai Weiwei different twenties years It's always the rich and there's plenty to waste, yet still China has a lot of people living in very spare, poor conditions. Ai Weiwei rich waste people We grew up in a very material-lacking socialist society, but today China is a capitalist society. It's very materialistic. It's full of desire and luxury goods. Ai Weiwei luxury desire today The whole attitude of society has become much more open and realistic. They realize that the only way to make a more democratic and free society is to let different opinions come out. Ai Weiwei different attitude way The [China] government has improved in the last years. Of course, the structure is still the same; there's still a one-party system and strong censorship. Ai Weiwei party government strong I have always stated I designed the stadium as a toilet seat. I don't care if this is a great cultural event or a national symbol. It has nothing to do with me. It deals with the city. Ai Weiwei toilet-seat events cities I'm not nostalgic about the old city. I don't enjoy it that much. It was just a city with one emperor and the rest of them just rats or meaningless people. Ai Weiwei rats cities people You're still being looked at as somebody who - it's a very complicated issue. Ai Weiwei issues stills complicated If it's possible, I will have some noodles in the morning and start talking to people, start to think about a few things in my head - the project or a few ideas which are not finished or if there are possible directions and what will lead into another game. It's always like setting up some kind of game you can continuously play. Ai Weiwei play morning thinking Today, we jump into this globalization of the economy and the internet age. Ai Weiwei internet age today
