Quotes from Ai Weiwei

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.

Now many enterprises are made by individuals, so the attitude has started to change.

If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it, I become singled out, even though what I'm saying is common sense. It's very essential values that we all have to protect. But in Chinese society, people are giving up on protecting these values.

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.

Recently I danced in a video spoof of the song 'Gangnam Style,' and it was quickly banned across multiple Chinese online video platforms. But the story still traveled all over the world, carried in hundreds of international media reports.

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.

Dictatorship is a story about death of others who turn out to be you coincidently.

The Chinese art world does not exist. In a society that restricts individual freedoms and violates human rights, anything that calls itself creative or independent is a pretence. It is impossible for a totalitarian society to create anything with passion and imagination.

I have people working together, doing different things: architecture, art installation, photography, publishing, and curatorial works and design.

I don't like China. Even today, I still feel I have no emotional relations with this place.

The fantasy we had with pearls was always so luxurious and unique with a kind of rareness.

The purpose of art is the fight for freedom.

Once you've tasted freedom, it stays in your heart and no one can take it. Then, you can be more powerful than a whole country.

I think everybody deserves freedom. Freedom is such an abstract word, but it's all we need.

The American experience influenced my understanding of individuality, basic human rights, freedom of expression and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

The misconception of totalitarianism is that freedom can be imprisoned. This is not the case. When you constrain freedom, freedom will take flight and land on a windowsill.

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

My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is never about exhibiting in museums or about hanging it on the wall.

...photographs are facts, but not necessarily true... The present always surpasses the past, and the future will not care about today.