#w

You would never say to a man, 'do you like playing strong men?' You just wouldn't say that. ↗

— Rachel Weisz

#like #man #men #never #playing

As a person, I was born to give out my opinions. By giving out my opinions, I realize who I am. As long as I can communicate, I'm not so lonely. If I cannot travel, or do art, or have company, if they take away all my belongings, it doesn't matter at all. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#art #away #born #cannot #communicate

Because of the economic crisis, China and the United States are bound together. This is a totally new phenomenon, and nobody will fight for ideology anymore. It's all about business. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#anymore #because #bound #business #china

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

#any #china #citizen #effort #equal

Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world it is more dangerous. In the west people think it's a right they're born with. Here it's a right given by the government, and one that's not really practised. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#chinese #citizens #constitution #dangerous #express

I just wrote a book, but don't go out and buy it yet, because I don't think it's finished yet. ↗

— Lawrence Welk

#book #buy #finished #go #i

Everyone wants an iPhone, but it would be impossible to design an iPhone in China because it's not a product; it's an understanding of human nature. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#china #design #everyone #human #human nature

I don't believe in the so-called Olympic spirit. I speak from personal experience. When China hosted the Games, it failed to include the people. The event was constructed without regard for their joy. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#china #constructed #event #experience #failed

I don't think it's worth discussing new directions in the context of Chinese art - there were no old directions, either. Chinese art has never had any clear orientation. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#art #chinese #clear #context #directions

I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design, and our proposal won the competition. From beginning to end, I stayed with the project. I am committed to fostering relationships between a city and its architecture. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#am #architectural #architecture #beginning #beijing