A collection of manifestos
About
< Back

Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. What we demand of others and of society should correspond to, and stay within, the bounds of what we demand of ourselves.Take a lot of interest in history and past experience, but also seek out new knowledge. Be imaginative. Think about things that have not happened yet.Use your own way of being, in an existentialist manner, to set the standard, and determine moral codes and rules of behavior.Harmonize your external appearance with your innermost thoughts. What we present to the outside world should be congruent with the quality of our inner world. We see a lot of discordance between what a person appears to be and what a person really is nowadays, but the harmony between the two is actually how an individual becomes an individual.Do things in life by non-interference and lead a life through natural rhythms. The human mind and nature are sometimes contradictory forces, but let nature take its course. By “nature,” Chinese people refer to the laws of the universe.Find out what “I” means and find your own identity. Who I am should be consistent with what I do, how I behave, and how I act. Persist, no matter what people say.Do the right thing without hesitation. Don’t let society’s constraints and expectations prevent you from pursuing the truth. Life is important. But life without meaning is not worth living.Do not become attached to worldly possessions and do not pity yourself on the grounds of unfavorable conditional material circumstances. Happiness, without outside influence, should be complete in its own right.Be modest, open-minded, and receptive like an echoing canyon. The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know. Facing the vast mystery of the universe, our individual experiences are insignificant and not worth mentioning.Be true in word and resolute in deed. Keep your word; what is said should be done. With everything we do, we should persist until it is completed.

A Manifesto by Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is one of the most important artists and activists working today. His work, which addresses political oppression and the power dwelling within a human being has communicated messages of freedom and empowerment to millions of people worldwide. Here, the extraordinary artist shares his 10 rules for art and living.

Authored by

Ai Weiwei, WordsIvy Li, Design

Published
April 12, 2022
Tags
Art