I have to respect my life, and free expression is part of my life. I can never really silence myself. - Ai Weiwei

It became like a symbolic thing, to be "an artist." After Duchamp, I realized that being an artist is more about a lifestyle and attitude than producing some product.

I have the responsibility to let the people know what happened to me, and did I commit the crime or if I didn’t, what is the real accusation? Why am I in this condition today? I think it reflects our human condition in this piece of land, and if I don’t bear some responsibility . . . . many, many people, their voice can never be heard.

The population is in a constant state of enforced dislocation. So let us hope that a totally new culture will come out of this.