Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei
MRI scan showing Ai Weiwei's cerebral haemorrhage as a result of police brutality in Chengdu, China, 12 August 2009
What are you reading?
I don’t read anything besides the news.
What was the first piece of art that really mattered to you?
My early memory of art is of revolutionary posters. They had a very strong impact on me as a child.
If you could live with only one piece of art what would it be?
I have no favourite piece of art. I am more interested in the artist than in the work.
What should change?
What should stay the same?
Everything should change and everything should stay the same.
What could you imagine doing if you didn’t do what you do?
Imagination is part of what I do now. If I didn’t do what I am doing today I would have no imagination.
What is your favourite title of an art work?
Untitled.
What music are you listening to?
I never listen to music.
What do you like the look of?
I like the look of anything. Everything is interesting to me.
What images keep you company in the space where you work?
Normally we don’t have any images in our working space – with one exception: a list of the names and birthdates of 5,000 students who died in the earthquake in Sichuan in 2008 is posted on one wall.
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