Quotation by

Ai Weiwei

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

Ai Weiwei

Society

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Ai Weiwei argues that true artistic expression cannot exist in China because the government controls and limits personal freedom, making any claim to creativity or independence false. He believes that a society ruled by strict, oppressive power cannot produce genuine, passionate art.

More by this author

All quotes by Ai Weiwei →

More quotes about Society

See all →

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.

There is more to life than increasing its speed.

Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.