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. Ai Weiwei bancarrychinese share on social
A nation that has no music and no fairytales is a tragedy. Ai Weiwei fairytalemusicnation Change image and share on social
When you have strict censorship of the internet, young students cannot receive a full education. Their view of the world is imbalanced. There can be no true discussion of the issues. Ai Weiwei censorshipdiscussioneducation Change image and share on social
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. Ai Weiwei artcallchinese share on social
To work in architecture you are so much involved with society, with politics, with bureaucrats. It's a very complicated process to do large projects. You start to see the society, how it functions, how it works. Then you have a lot of criticism about how it works. Ai Weiwei architecturebureaucratcomplicate share on social
People are always wondering if I am an artist or political activist or politician. Maybe I'll just clearly tell you: Whatever I do is not art. Let's say it is just objects or materials, movies or writing, but not art, OK? Ai Weiwei activistartartist share on social
The Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai World Expo show just how much effort China is willing to spend to enter the global stage. But while China desires to understand the world, it fails to accept its universal values. Ai Weiwei acceptbeijingchina share on social
China has not established the rule of law and if there is a power above the law there is no social justice. Everybody can be subjected to harm. I'm just a citizen: my life is equal in value to any other. But I'm thankful that when I lost my freedom so many people shared feelings and put such touching effort into helping me. Ai Weiwei chinacitizeneffort share on social
To protect the right of expression is the central part of an artist's activity... In China many essential rights are lacking, and I wanted to remind people of this. Ai Weiwei activityartistcentral Change image and share on social
Since the global economic crisis began, the change in global attitudes is clear to see - and I think it is pitiful. Barack Obama came to China and he is probably the only president of the United States never to mention the words 'human rights' in public. Ai Weiwei attitudebarackbegin share on social