Humanity

by Weiwei Ai

Ai Weiwei (b. 1957) is widely known as an artist across media: sculpture, installation, photography, performance, and architecture. He is also one of the world's most important artist-activists and a powerful documentary filmmaker. His work and art call attention to attacks on democracy and free speech, abuses of human rights, and human displacement--often on an epic, international scale.

This collection of quotations demonstrates the range of Ai Weiwei's thinking on humanity and mass migration, issues that have occupied him for decades. Selected from articles, interviews, and conversations, Ai Weiwei's words speak to the profound urgency of the global refugee crisis, the resilience and vulnerability of the human condition, and the role of art in providing a voice for the voiceless.

Select quotations from the book:
"This problem has such a long history, a human history. We are all refugees somehow, somewhere, and at some moment."

"Allowing borders to determine your thinking is incompatible with the modern era."

"Art is about aesthetics, about morals, about our beliefs in humanity. Without that there is simply no art."

"I don't care what all people think. My work belongs to the people who have no voice."

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Art, Politics, China

152 pages, Hardcover

Published February 27, 2018

About the author

Ai Weiwei is one of the world's most important living artists. Born in 1957, He lives in Cambridge.

Reviews

[Maria Bikaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Ο κόσμος λέει: Είμαστε καλύτεροι απ' αυτούς Αυτοί είναι ο κίνδυνος. Αυτοί είναι το πρόβλημα. Αυτά τα λόγια δεν αναγνωρίζουν τι σημαίνει άνθρωπος. Είναι ενάντια στην ιδέα ότι έχουμε γεννηθεί όλοι ίσοι, είναι κάτι που παραβιάζει την έννοια των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και της ανθρώπινης αξιοπρέπειας".
Καταρχήν τα ειλικρινή μου συγχαρητήρια στις εκδόσεις Guternberg γι' αυτήν την έκδοση στολίδι που κοσμεί τις βιβλιοθήκες μας. Μια σπουδαία έκδοση. Ένα τόσο δα μικρό βιβλιαράκι τσέπης με τόσο μεγάλο και σημαντικό περιεχόμενο. Κατά τη γνώμη μου από τα σημαντικότερα αναγνωστικά και εκδοτικά γεγονότα της χρονιάς. Και πόσο επίκαιρο αυτές τις μέρες.
Ο ακτιβιστής και υπέρμαχος των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων Ai Weiwei ταξιδεύει στη Λέσβο και λοιπά κέντρα υποδοχής προσφύγων ανά τον κόσμο, μιλάει μαζί τους, αναλύει εις βάθος το μέγεθος της προσφυγικής κρίσης και ουσιαστικά μας προσφέρει μια συλλογή απο τις σκέψεις του κατά τη διάρκεια αυτών των ταξιδιών.
"Το βαθύτερο ερώτημα είναι το πόσο σεβόμαστε τον άνθρωπο σ' αυτή την κοινωνία, το πώς κάνουμε πιο στέρεη την αγάπη, προστατεύουμε τα δικαιώματα και θεμελιώνουμε την ιδέα ότι είμαστε όλοι ίσοι".
Πρώην πρόσφυγας και ο ίδιος τους κατανοεί, συμπάσχει μαζί τους, αποτυπώνει τον πόνο τους, προσπαθεί ν' αναδείξει το μέγεθος του προβλήματος και καλεί τον υπόλοιπο κόσμο ν' αντισταθεί, να επιδείξει συλλογική ευθύνη κια κάνει έκκληση σε όλους εμάς για δράση.
" Δε μπορώ να δώσω σ' 'όλους τους πρόσφυγες τροφή, τσάι και χρήματα. Μπορώ όμως να βοηθήσω ώστε οι φωνές τους ν' ακουστούν και να γίνουν γνωστές. Μπορώ να τους δώσω βήμα για ν' αναγνωριστούν ως ανθρώπινες υπάρξεις".
Σπουδαίο βιβλίο. Κάντε στον εαυτό σας τη χάρη να τοδιαβάσετε. Μέσα σε λίγες γραμμές εξηγείται με τρόπο απλό το μεταναστευτικό καθώς το όραμα του συγγραφέα ότι στιγμή θα καταλάβουμε ότι οι άνθρωποι γεννιούνται ίσοι και ότι η ζωή είναι πολύτιμη. Δε θα συμφωνήσετε όλοι μαζί του απλά δώστε του την ευκαιρία να σας πει την ιστορία από τη δική του οπτική γωνία.

[Annetius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mini βιβλίο, maxi περιεχόμενο. Πρόκειται για σκέψεις και στοχασμούς του Ai Weiwei κυρίως πάνω στο θέμα του προσφυγικού ζητήματος, το οποίο αφορά όλη την ανθρωπότητα και όχι συγκεκριμένα σημεία του πλανήτη όπου λαμβάνουν χώρα σήμερα προσφυγικές ροές. Σήμερα είναι εδώ, χθες ήταν εκεί, αύριο θα είναι αλλού. Οφείλουμε να ασχοληθούμε σοβαρά και να το πάρουμε προσωπικά.

Δεν ξέρω κατά πόσο ένα μικρό βιβλιαράκι με quotes μπορεί να επηρεάσει ένα μυαλό ώστε να περάσει στη δράση. Όμως είναι άλλος ένας σπόρος. Ένας καλλιτέχνης, ο Ai Weiwei, του οποίου η ελευθερία και η ελευθερία έκφρασης έχει θιχτεί πάμπολλες φορές, αισθάνεται ότι οφείλει με το έργο του να απαντήσει σε αυτή την Πτώση, να θίξει κι αυτός με τα μέσα που διαθέτει το φλέγον αυτό ζήτημα του προσφυγικού. Και μιλά εκ των έσω: πήρε τα πόδια του και πήγε στη Λέσβο και σε πολλά άλλα μέρη μετακίνησης προσφύγων. Είδε κι απόειδε.

Εγώ προσωπικά διαβάζοντας αυτές τις σκέψεις, που απ’ ολονών μας το μυαλό έχουν περάσει κάποια στιγμή, ένιωσα για άλλη μια φορά την Πτώση που συντελείται, την αποτυχία της ανθρωπότητας και βάφτισα τον καθένα από μας Ζαν-Μπατίστ Κλαμάνς· βλέπουμε τη φρικωδία, παραμένουμε στις θέσεις μας, γυρνάμε πλευρό. Υπάρχει πάντα κάτι περισσότερο από την απραξία που μπορείς να κάνεις.

Η Ευρώπη και η Αμερική ας κάνουνε τη σούμα.

Εμείς, ας κάνουμε τη σούμα.

«Εθνικότητα και σύνορα είναι εμπόδια στην ευφυία μας, στη φαντασία μας και σε κάθε είδους δυνατότητα.»

«Τα σύνορα υπάρχουν για να γκρεμίζονται. Ως καλλιτέχνης τα συναντώ διαρκώς: αισθητικά, φιλοσοφικά και κοινωνικά σύνορα περιορίζουν τα βήματά μου.»

«Η σιωπή των 65 εκατομμυρίων προσφύγων είναι ταπεινωτική για μας που έχουμε φωνή.»

*Ο A.W. είναι ένας εξαιρετικός στρατευμένος καλλιτέχνης, αξίζει να τον ψάξετε.

[Vasileios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Τα σύνορα υπάρχουν για να γκρεμίζονται. Ως καλλιτέχνης τα συναντώ διαρκώς: αισθητικά, φιλοσοφικά και κοινωνικά σύνορα περιορίζουν τα βήματά μου.

https://www.vintagestories.gr/anthrop...

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humanity by Ai Weiwei, is a series of quotes from the author on the global refugee crisis currently affecting many Western nations, due to regional instability and poverty largely in the global south. The author is critical of the responses many Western countries have utilized to try and stem the flow of refugees. For example, many European countries have experimented with a rejection of the Schengen Area, actively repressed refugees from entering their borders, or interned refugees in poorly run camps. The same is true in North America, where increasing numbers of refugees from Central America have been crossing the border into the US, and from the US into Canada due to repressive US policies on immigrants. The US has proposed closing its border with Mexico, and has implemented policies that have seized young children and torn them away from their family members.

Ai Weiwei is blunt; these policies are inhumane, and represent an immaturity in the polity implementing them. The author is sympathetic to the plight of the refugees, and has witnessed and been present in refugee camps, on shore when refugees land, and so on. He is critical of Western governments for largely creating the refugee crisis' in various regions, due to unequal economic treaties, support for regional conflicts, an general destabilizing tactics. His quotes are often poetic, heartfelt, and poignant, although somewhat shallow, as he does not propose any real solutions besides an increase in empathy (which may work, but is an immeasurable human quality and still does not guarantee the crisis is solved). All in all, this is a solid and quick read on one famous human rights activists' viewpoint of the refugee crisis. A worthy read.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I can give a collection of quotes more than 3 stars just on principle, but still, a solid insight into Ai Weiwei's philosophies.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this over a year ago. It sat on my shelf, and I didn't miss it. I picked it up today to give it another go. I even started from the beginning to be fair, since I didn't remember much of it. And I hated it. I love the idea of encouraging people to see refugees as human, of course. But this is a collection of quotes, sorted by very loosely-related themes, without context. There aren't statistics about refugees or stories about their lives, both of which I believe could have helped readers connect to this crisis. It's a list of quote after quote, sometimes only two on a page, which makes the book seem underfilled and the expense of printing it -- especially at a $13 price -- unwarranted. I'd have preferred this book if it provided a bit of background on the author and his work, a summary of some interviews that he's done, and how these quotes fit in context. All in all, I'd say a reader's money would be far better spent in a donation to an agency providing aid to refugees.

[Darren Cormier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this book! Please, please, please!
I have read this collection of quotes and insight from Ai Weiwei on the international refugee crisis (and our crisis of compassion and humanity) twice, knowing I will read it a third and fourth and probably a fifth time.
Anytime I feel like I need a refresher or a boost to my waning hope, I know I can turn to these words and actions.

[Wendelle]

Ai Weiwei's wise invocations for tolerance, compassion and empathy for refugees.

[Matilda (booksinwildplaces) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Ai Weiwei's 'Human Flow' documentary provides us with much needed insight into the current migration and refugee crisis. It delves into human experiences and emotions, from people trapped in war-torn countries, to refugees in camps or on route to safer communities, to officials and political leaders in countries that are making life-changing decisions about the fate of refugees.

This book of quotes is an accompaniment to the documentary and Weiwei's other work. It is more of a motivational book than anything else - convincing readers why we should care about others and how it is our duty and part of our nature to treat everyone as human.

I would have rated the book higher if it held more text and didn't solely focus on quotes. It would have made more of an impact for me if it re-told some of the experiences of refugees and migrants that are introduced in Weiwei's documentary.

I would recommend everyone watch 'Human Flow', and I will be re-watching it soon too, but probably wouldn't recommend picking up this book unless you're interested in just reading inspirational quotes.

[Pily · Rating 4 out of 5]

learned a lot from this little book.

[Andreea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There isn't much I have to say about this book, other than it is a collection of quotes from Ai Weiwie's interviews and articles throughout the years and everyone should read it, because it is important, it speaks harsh truths about all of us and the refugee crisis we prefer to ignore.

I am speechless and in love, and I highlighted almost the entire book. It's thought-provoking and easy to read, although it might take you a while to digest everything Weiwei has to say.

[Beth Younge · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book on quotes. I read it once and i liked it enough. The only downside of this book is that it does not warrant a re-read but it does make you think about stuff when first read.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need empathy. Knowledge. Or both.

[ianridewood is on Storygraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We all have to understand that humanity, and liberty, needs to be defended by each generation."

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Highly recommend the author’s documentary, Human Flow. It’s a 5/5 experience on the global refugee crisis. This book of random and repeated quotes is not.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had seen Ai Weiwei's installation called According to What? at the Art Gallery of Ontario in 2013. That was my introduction to him and his work. I also saw his installation Zodiac Heads at Toronto City Hall in 2013. I was very moved by According to What?, notably the installation using the rebar from the school buildings that collapsed in the earthquake in Sichuan, China in 2008. It is called Straight. More than 5000 children died when their schools collapsed. Powerful presence in that installation.

So when I saw the book Humanity in a bookstore this week, I grabbed it. Edited by Larry Warsh it presents Ai Weiwei quotes from credited sources from 2015-2017 on the topic of global refugees. You can tell the quotes that are directly aimed at Donald Trump and his followers.

Quotes are organized topically: Humanity; Crisis; Borders; Power; Displacement; Freedom and Action.

Ai Weiwei's value base and focus is consistently on the humanity of each person and the sacredness of freedom of expression for everyone. Powerfully inserted throughout all topics is the call to action, most notably for we who are privileged.

So glad I have this to refer to to counter-balance the messages we hear so consistently about the economy being the focus and protectionism being the way.

Ai Weiwei produced a documentary in 2017 called Human Flow. I will now make a point to see that film.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Everything below is a direct quote:)
---
I have great sympathy for people who fear migrants, for their lack of knowledge, and as a result, their lack of understanding of humanity.

Nationality and borders are barriers to our intelligence, to our imagination and to all kinds of possibilities.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, eleven countries around the world were cut off by border fences and walls. By 2016, some seventy countries had built border fences and walls. The US is now trying to build a new wall with Mexico and for me this is unthinkable. This solution has never worked and it testifies to the notion that we have become less courageous.

The refugees are very brave and capable and determined to establish a new life. They are not interested in somebody giving them mercy or money. They are very proud people with great dignity. They understand life more than most people. But who is going to have them? Or make it possible for them to restart?

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humanity is a collection of quotations by artist, film-maker and political activist Ai Weiwei which have been gathered from interviews, articles & conversations. He speaks on the subjects of the global refugee crisis, globalism, humanity, democracy, power, and activism. As a former refugee himself, he speaks most powerfully about refugees, those who rarely can speak for themselves.

A thought provoking read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Princeton University Press for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Sibisse Cándida · Rating 2 out of 5]

La verdad es que me ha decepcionado bastante. Un pensamiento valiente por venir de donde viene, pero nada esclarecedor o removedor. Hay algunos aforismos rescatables, pero la mayoría son bastante simples: los refugiados son seres humanos y nuestra responsabilidad es implicarnos. No digo que el mensaje no sea importante, pero vamos, me han hecho pensar más estados de facebook de amigos que este libro. Prescindible.

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of the color of blue on its cover.

"All day long, the media asks me if I have shown the film to the refugees, but that's the wrong question. The purpose is to show it to people of influence; people who are in a position to help and who have a responsibility to help. The refugees who need help-they don't need to see the film. They need dry shoes. They need soup." (87)

[Fay Wu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, I finished it in one sitting. It's a collection of quotations by Ai Wei Wei, gathered by his friend Larry Walsh. They speak largely about the refugee crisis, or rather, in Ai's words, the humanity crisis. One of them that hit me:

"You really have to be emotionally and physically involved, otherwise you become superficial and you just sit in your own little world and read the news."

[ironinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"how many times do people shrug their shoulders and say, 'what can we do?' a society is always composed of groups of individuals. you can influence other people and make your voice heard. it would be a shame if we had to confess to our children that we did nothing. that we pretended we knew nothing. or that we had no power. come on! we have great power"
an essential 2025 read

[Molly Schuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

i randomly stumbled across this at the library today and i really needed to hear these hopeful words during an extremely dark, depressing and fearful time in america and in the beautiful and colorful city that i live in.
“i have great sympathy for people who fear migrants, for their lack of knowledge and as a result, their lack of understanding humanity.”

[Ale · Rating 5 out of 5]

great follow up to Human Flow project. Makes you think but as someone mentioned, does not guarantee a re-read; nice to stay on a shelf in a visible place to remind you about historic moment we are in and to reflect on what's important

[OSLO Zeimantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

short. sweet. and to the point dare I say....
this book helped me see people in a better light.
and usually there is very little light and if so it casts a shadow. Some how
henced (?) away contempt for society, in this beautiful book.
real nice one to read allowed at the nursing home.
10/10

[Miles Kirsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice intro to Ai Weiwei's ideologies, but too repetitive / brief to get anything powerful across (with a few exceptions).

i think you'd get more by listening to a few of Weiwei's interviews. but the book itself is super cute :)

[Critterbee❇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*eARC Netgalley*

[Maria Saraiva de Menezes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless.

[Shelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book of Ai Weiwei quotes on the refugee crisis. I think he does important work, but this wasn't a good format to showcase it.

[Connor Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of quotes and sayings from essays and speeches across decades. Most things are still extremely relevant today.