Weiwei-isms

If you know the work of Ai Weiwei, you will love this book. Check out this write up from the excellent Gwarlingo Blog:[...]I didn’t expect a publication that has been touted as one of the “Best Art Books of 2012″ to stand just six inches tall and contain only two photographs. But as Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s new book Weiwei-isms proves, small can be powerful.This slim, pocket-sized volume compiles quotes made by Ai in interviews, in newspaper articles, on his blog, and via Twitter. “Chairman Mao was the first in the world to use Twitter,” says Ai. “All his quotations are within 140 words.” Weiwei-isms, published by Princeton University Press and designed by Pamela Schnitter with art direction by Maria Lindenfeldar, is brilliantly executed, and the high-quality paper and sewn binding are a pleasure to leaf through.Ai’s reference to Mao is important, for his book cleverly satirizes the Chairman’s infamous book of quotations, ironically referred to as the Little Red Book in the West.It is uncommon for a visual artist to privilege words over images, but that is precisely what Ai has done again and again over the course of his career. In a culture where free-speech is suppressed, direct discourse has exceptional value—a value that Western society has largely forgotten in this age of political hyperbole, Internet blather, and ad speak.It is one thing to create art that skirts government censors through subtlety and ambiguity (as artists have done in repressed societies for centuries), and quite another to wear your politics on your sleeve (or your Twitter feed, in this case). As Ai discovered, such boldness can quickly get you thrown into prison, or worse.For Ai, “this struggle is a ‘war of words,’” says editor Larry Warsh in his introduction to Weiwei-isms, ”and his own words—spoken, written, or tweeted—are ‘like a bullet out of the gun,’” “Ai Weiwei repeatedly points out, and centuries of history attest, human rights and freedom of expression are not set by anyone’s agenda. They are inalienable rights, central to what makes us human.”Both Ai’s Twitter feed and censored blog (which I have written about before) are works of art in their own right. And as Clarissa Sebag-Montefiore writes in the Independent, “Ai is not only a master of generating self-publicity online but also of the short, sweet quote. At his best he can use Twitter in a way that a Japanese poet might use a haiku: harnessing the compactness of the form to his advantage. ‘During the days in detention, I thought most about the moon,’ posted Ai in 2011. Such pared-down lyricism makes his language a pleasure to read.” After all, this is the land of Confucius and Lao Tzu.One of the things I value most about Ai’s work is that he doesn’t limit himself to one particular medium. “Everything is art,” Ai says. “Everything is politics.”Ai lives his art, as seen in Alison Klayman’s recent documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. After Ai is beaten by police for trying to testify for Tan Zuoren, a fellow earthquake investigator, he is diagnosed with a cerebral hemorage and must undergo emergency brain surgery.Ai photographs his hospital experience and later, he and his assistants methodically go from police station to police station filing complaints about the attack, but getting nowhere. The act of confronting Chinese bureaucracy and injustice directly and documenting the result is the kind of art Franz Kafka could appreciate.“I want to prove that the system is not working,” argues Ai. “You can’t simply say that the system is not working. You have to work through it.”Weiwei-isms is organized into six themes: Freedom of Expression; Art and Activism; Government, Power, and Making Moral Choices; Digital World; History, Historical Moment, and the Future; and Personal Reflections. The little black book is a direct snub to the Chinese government and represents everything Mao’s Little Red Book does not: individuality, social change, the basic human right of freedom speech. This is a big burden for a tiny 120-page book to carry, and yet it does the job remarkably well.The mere act of compiling Ai’s statements into a book that mocks Mao’s legacy is a radical gesture. And I would go so far as to say that the act of purchasing and sharing this book is a small show of support for human rights. Of course, Chinese citizens are the ones who would benefit most from Weiwei-isms, and they will not have easy access to this publication—an injustice we would do well to keep in mind.In the West we have become indifferent to free speech. We have forgotten that words have the power to change minds and incite action. But totalitarian governments and religious fundamentalists know better. They ban books and censor not because they are crazy or ignorant, but because they comprehend reality: the ability to speak our own truth is the most potent and human act of all.

The book was in great condition and a steal for the price. It was well padded in a waterproof covering. It arrived quickly.

I've read it 2 times , one would think a book this size would be set aside once is read once , but I assure you one could easily spend long periods of time on a single quote understanding its meaningful inside .

This item is true to photo, and just perfect. Amazon had the best price I could find anywhere! Shipped with amazon prime right away. Not to mention this is a wonderful book, a quick read if you'd like it to be, wonderful collection of Ai Weiwei's quotes. Very satisfied.

Excellent quotations. A little bit on the political side for me. I identify with this author, and found the subject stimulating and thoughtful. I would give this book five stars, but it's not one of my favorite books for some reason. Hard to explain. It really is an excellent book. A lot better than In Praise of Shadows, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb's book of quotations, called Bed of Procrustes.More complex works might include the classic Zen text titled The Blue Cliff Record, The Oxford Book of Aphorisms, Elias Canetti's The Secret Heart of the Clock, and Baudrillard's interviews titled Paroxysm.I also think books by women writers including Annie Dillard's On Writing, Ann LaMott's Bird by Bird, and Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones are better books, admittedly by professional writers.

Bought this as a gift for a huge fan who was very delighted to receive it. Overall great purchase!

A gem, a keeper, a journal of quotes, many of which are immanently quotable. Absolutely love it. It made me love Ai Wei-Wei's integrity and passion and commitment.

I love to have my mind opened and flipped into new dimensions. Thank you. This book is a miniature .... mind opening giant !

Little art book in perfect condition and completed my collection of ART’ism’s

Exactly what I wanted. Great book.

But this made me love him even more! A definite read to have your eyes opened to what it's like to be a citizen of modern China.

great