Monthly Archives: September 2025

Ai Weiwei, rebel after my own heart

With love to Ai Weiwei! Here are photos from the recent exhibition at Seattle Art Museum, “Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei”, and a few inspiring quotes from him.

Postcard from Seattle Art Museum, courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio, photo: Gao Yuan

“Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it. I don’t feel that much anger. I equally have a lot of joy.”

“Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn”, 1995

“I’ve never planned any part of my career – except being an artist. And I was pushed into that corner because I thought being an artist was the only way to have a little freedom.”

“Middle Finger”, 2000

“Study of Perspective”, 1995 – 2003

“Tips on surviving the regime: Respect yourself and speak for others. Do one small thing every day to prove the existence of justice.”

“Illumination”, 2019

“Say what you need to say plainly, and then take responsibility for it.”

Why does my heart feel so bad?

It is not weakness to cry and have empathy for the children who have been molested by family members, church leaders, political leaders, military leaders, by men and women who delight in the exploitation and death of innocent children – our tears and our empathy are a light exposing their darkness. Our tears are powerful and holy. Now is the time to throw off the shackles of shame these predators demanded we wear for them, to loosen our tongues and not shut up until every pedophile is brought to justice and until every abused child is heard and believed and protected. We are not victims, we are overcomers, and we turn our pain into power, AMEN!

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” –Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French Jesuit Catholic priest, 1881-1955