Weiwei-isms
*One of The Village Voice's Favourite Books for 2012*
This collection of quotes demonstrates the elegant simplicity of Ai Weiwei's thoughts on key aspects of his art, politics, and life
A master at communicating powerful ideas in astonishingly few words, Ai Weiwei is known for his innovative use of social media to disseminate his views. The short quotations presented here have been carefully selected from articles, tweets, and interviews given by this acclaimed Chinese artist and activist. The book is organised into six categories: freedom of expression; art and activism; government, power, and moral choices; the digital world; history, the historical moment, and the future; and personal reflections. Together, these quotes span some of the most revealing moments of Ai Weiwei's eventful career — from his risky investigation into student deaths in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake to his arbitrary arrest in 2011 — providing a window into the mind of one of the world's most electrifying and courageous contemporary artists.
Select Quotes from the Book:
- 'Say what you need to say plainly, and then take responsibility for it.'
- 'Liberty is about our rights to question everything.'
- 'Everything is art. Everything is politics.'
- 'The art always wins. Anything can happen to me, but the art will stay.'
- 'I feel powerless all the time, but I regain my energy by making a very small difference that won't cost me much.'
- 'If a nation cannot face its past, it has no future.'
'PERFECT FOR: Dissidents-in-training, Ai fans and anyone with a Twitter handle.' — Huffington Post
'Don't let the size fool you. Ai Weiwei's 'little black book' will leave a lasting impression.' — Sylvia Tsai, ArtAsiaPacific
Ai Weiwei is one of China's most influential and inspiring figures. Artist, architect, curator, and activist, he has been an outspoken critic of the Chinese government's stance on human rights and democracy. His work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the Guangzhou Triennial, Tate Modern, the Smithsonian, and other venues throughout the world. Larry Warsh has been active in the art world for more than thirty years. He has collaborated with Ai Weiwei on several projects, including the public art installation Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads (2010). Warsh is a former member of the Contemporary Arts Council of the Asia Society and the Contemporary Arts Committee of the China Institute. He has also served on the boards of the Museum of Contemporary Art, China; the Alliance for the Arts; and the Getty Museum Photographs Council. He is currently on the board of Muse Film and Television and is a member of the Basquiat Authentication Committee.
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