The world is not changing if you don’t shoulder the burden of responsibility. Ai Weiwei More Quotes by Ai Weiwei More Quotes From Ai Weiwei My mother became much older when I came out (ed's note: of detention). She had problems with her hearing and high blood pressure. But they still support me. Ai Weiwei support mother blood The IT people who have made such an effort to know and understand computer technology. They are frustrated that you cannot use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in China. They are the first to recognize that the situation is terrible. Ai Weiwei effort technology people It's always nice to share your energy with young people, the people who might not have any skills but are simply willing to be a part of it. Ai Weiwei nice skills people Warhol came from an ordinary family and he had a profound understanding about capitalism and material culture. He was probably one of the few Western artists - or artists from the United States - that could be considered a true product of his time and brought out that kind of spirit of the culture. Ai Weiwei understanding artist profound Individual; that means he has his own special way to communicate, which creates the form of him. In the information age, this expression and communication has become so different. Ai Weiwei communication expression mean Many people I know - writers, poets - they have all been sentenced not once but sometimes three times after they come out. They serve five or six years, come out another time, and then nine years. Come out again, 12 years. Only because they have a different opinion. They are innocent people, they have beautiful minds, beautiful hearts. Ai Weiwei heart beautiful years I always admire writers. My father was a writer, a poet. I always admire people who can clearly state their mind. Ai Weiwei mind father people I'm not a writer, but today I think you have to be everything. As an artist you have an obligation to let people know what is on your mind and why you're doing this. Ai Weiwei artist people thinking I'm always interested in people who are not orientated in art circles to become part of it. Ai Weiwei circles people art If I walk on the street, if I go to a restaurant, people come to me and say: "Can we take a photo together? Can you give me your autograph?" They would bring their expensive Armani or Prada wallet to sign. Other people who are desperate show me a photo of their dead daughter and ask: Can you support me? I tell them: How can I? Morally, of course, I sympathize with you. But I cannot support you and you cannot support me. This is the condition of this society. We are separated. Ai Weiwei support-you daughter people I always thought that in modern history Chinese people are like a dish of sand, never really close together. But I think a dish of sand is a good metaphor because we have the Internet. We don't have to be physically united. You can be an individual and have your own set of values but join others in certain struggles. There is nothing more powerful than that. Ai Weiwei powerful struggle thinking Artists are the worst [people]. They are selfish, self-centred; they don't care what happens. Ai Weiwei selfish artist people I remember one little rainy day I went searching for this apartment and I saw so many people standing on a stoop on the corner in the rain. Later I realized, that was drug traffic. They were all buying drugs. Ai Weiwei drug rain people In the '80s, you couldn't walk in the neighborhood without looking back to see if anyone was following you. You had your key in your hand before you got to your apartment and you'd rush in so you didn't have to stop. Ai Weiwei neighborhood keys hands My image of what a city should be - the super-rich and all the poor and desperate and the people who have some kind of a desire. It's a surviving game, people trying to survive on many different levels. Ai Weiwei cities games people Once I was in New York, I completely had no interest for a long time in what happened in China because I had been through so much. Seeing my father's life struggle and so many whole generations lose their potential or possibility in their lives. Just being pushed into this political struggle and the damage done not only to their lives but their relatives. Ai Weiwei new-york struggle father New York is a city where you're so alone, you're an individual, you can disappear. You can make something happen. But it's very different to make something happen in the art world. Ai Weiwei cities new-york art All the auction houses care about is the selling of luxury goods. Ai Weiwei luxury care house If a society cannot even support somebody like me, then people ask: Who is under protection then? That's why there is such support for me. It is not because I am so beautiful or I am so charming. People feel: This guy is fighting for us. Ai Weiwei fighting beautiful people 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 rule-of-law tough corruption law
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