Ai Weiwei Quotes

I lost all connection with the outside world and was immersed in a world of darkness. I was scared that my existence would fade silently. No one knew where I was, and no one would ever know. I was just like a small soybean—once fallen to the ground, it rolls into a crack in the corner. Being unable to make any sounds, it will forever be forgotten.

Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it. I don’t feel that much anger. I equally have a lot of joy.

In an environment without public platform nor protection, the individual is the most powerful and most responsible.

Once again, the facts have been erased.

[People] always tell me, “Weiwei, leave the nation, please.” Or “Live longer and watch them die.” Either leave, or be patient and watch how they die. I really don’t know what I’m going to do.

Choices after waking up: To be true or to lie? To take action or be brainwashed? To be free or be jailed?

The Internet is uncontrollable. And if the Internet is uncontrollable, freedom will win. It’s as simple as that.

Neither fairness nor justice, neither reality nor humanity can be simulated or manipulated by wires or remote controls.

Not an inch of the land belongs to you, but every inch could easily imprison you.

Tips on surviving the regime: Respect yourself and speak for others. Do one small thing every day to prove the existence of justice.

The think of artists as prostitutes. And in reality it’s true: in the Communist system artists just represent what the power structure seeks them to represent. It is prostitution."

Myself, I try to search for the new way, always trying to set up a new possibility and to find the new tools to express myself. To reach a broader audience.

You’re in total isolation. And you don’t know how long you’re going to be there, but you truly believe they can do anything to you. There’s no way to even question it. You’re not protected by anything. Why am I here? Your mind is very uncertain of time. You become like mad. It’s very hard for anyone. Even for people who have strong beliefs.

They know too many things they should not know and they do not know some things they need to know.

The biggest crime of a dictatorship is to eradicate human feelings from people.