Table Of Content

Ai WeiWei’s Blog The MIT Press Writing Art series, edited by Roger Conover Art after Philosophy and After: Collected Writings, 1966–1990, by Joseph Kosuth [out of print] Rock My Religion: Writings and Projects 1965–1990, by Dan Graham [out of print] Continuous Project Altered Daily: The Writings of Robert Morris (October Books), by Robert Morris [out of print] Remote Control: Power, Cultures, and the World of Appearances, by Barbara Kruger The Daily Practice of Painting: Writings 1960–1993, by Gerhard Richter Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House: Writings 1973–1994, by Bill Viola Out of Order, Out of Sight. Volume I: Selected Writings in Meta-Art 1968–1992, by Adrian Piper Out of Order, Out of Sight. Volume II: Selected Writings in Art Criticism 1967–1992, by Adrian Piper Imaging Desire, by Mary Kelly Destruction of the Father/Reconstruction of the Father: Writings and Interviews, 1923–1997, by Louise Bourgeois Critical Vehicles: Writings, Projects, Interviews, by Krzysztof Wodiczko Two-Way Mirror Power: Selected Writings by Dan Graham on His Art, by Dan Graham Imaging Her Erotics: Essays, Interviews, Projects, by Carolee Schneemann Essays on Art and Language, by Charles Harrison Conceptual Art and Painting: Further Essays on Art and Language, by Charles Harrison Leave Any Information at the Signal: Writings, Interviews, Bits, Pages (October Books), by Ed Ruscha Foul Perfection: Essays and Criticism, by Mike Kelley Please Pay Attention Please: Bruce Nauman’s Words: Writings and Interviews, by Bruce Nauman Decoys and Disruptions: Selected Writings, 1975–2001 (October Books), by Martha Rosler Minor Histories: Statements, Conversations, Proposals, by Mike Kelley The AIDS Crisis Is Ridiculous and Other Writings, 1986–2003, by Gregg Bordowitz Cuts: Texts 1959–2004, by Carl Andre Museum Highlights: The Writings of Andrea Fraser, by Andrea Fraser Language to Cover a Page: The Early Writings of Vito Acconci, by Vito Acconci Feelings Are Facts: A Life, by Yvonne Rainer Solar System & Rest Rooms: Writings and Interviews, 1965–2007, by Mel Bochner Ai Weiwei’s Blog: Writings, Interviews, and Digital Rants, 2006–2009, by Ai Weiwei The MIT Press CaMbrIdge, MassaChuseTTs London, engLand Ai WeiWei’s Blog Writings, Interviews, and Digital Rants, 2006–2009 Ai WeiWei EDItED AND tRANSLAtED BY LEE AMBROzY WrITIngART serIes © 2011 Massachusetts Institute of technology All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher. MIt Press books may be purchased at special quantity discounts for business or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected] or write to Special Sales Department, the MIt Press, 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. this book was set in Bembo and Gotham by the MIt Press. Printed and bound in Spain. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ai, Weiwei. Ai Weiwei’s blog : writings, interviews, and digital rants, 2006–2009 / Ai Weiwei ; edited and translated by Lee Ambrozy. p. cm. — (Writing art) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-262-01521-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Ai, Weiwei—Blogs. 2. Dissenters, Artistic—China—Blogs. I. Ambrozy, Lee, 1978– II. title. N7349.A5A35 2011 709.51′090511—dc22 2010024293 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 FoR The GRAss Mud hoRse Contents Preface xii Introduction xvi 2006 texts Problems Facing Foreign Architects Working within a Chinese Architectural Practice 3 Architecture and Space 5 Photography 9 With Regard to Architecture 10 Chinese Contemporary Art in Dilemma and transition 14 On Photography 18 Who Are You? 20 the Longest Road 25 their City 26 N town 28 S Village in Beijing 30 Wrong Place, Right time 32 Distracting thoughts Overhead 35 A Straightforward Angle: Liu Xiaodong 37 Quietly Settling Dust 39 Fragments 40 A World without Honor 45 Yesterday I Cut My Hair 47 Here and Now 48 Ideal Cities and Architecture Do Not Exist 52 As Soon as You’re Not Careful … an Encounter with Idiocy on a Sunny Day 56 A Path to an Unknown Place 57 A Curse for zuzhou 59 Ordinary Architecture 61 Ar Chang’s Persistence 66 the Computer Worth “Several Hundred Million” and One Worthless Brain 67 A Road with No End 70 Ignorance and Hypocrisy Always Win 70 Why I Am a Hypocrite 72 the People, the Moon, zidane, and More 75 Some thoughts on Future Cities 78 Letting Our Mistakes Keep Us Down 83 Aftershocks 87 Spiritual Orientation and the Possibilities of Existence 88 Super Lights: Yan Lei and His Work 89 Flat-Bottomed Cloth Shoes 91 Familiar Curse Words 93 Despicable things 94