My situation gives me certain ideas about beauty or the excitement of life, but that doesn’t mean other people can necessarily appreciate it.

In the ’80s, you couldn’t walk in the neighborhood without looking back to see if anyone was following you. You had your key in your hand before you got to your apartment and you’d rush in so you didn’t have to stop.

If there is no free speech, every single life has lived in vain.

We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more efficient. That is very short-sighted. China looks efficient only because it can sacrifice most people’s rights. This is not something the west should be happy about.

If my art has nothing to do with people’s pain and sorrow, what is ‘art’ for?

Once you’ve tasted freedom, it stays in your heart and no one can take it. Then, you can be more powerful than a whole country.

Historically, China is not a nation of sportsmen. We traditionally put more emphasis on being close to nature than pushing endlessly to excel. A philosophy that values tranquil contemplation of the landscape cannot easily be adapted to the Olympic slogan of ‘higher, stronger, faster.’

It doesn’t matter where I am – China will stay in me. I don’t know how far I can still walk on this road and what is the limit.

I’m not a writer, but today I think you have to be everything. As an artist you have an obligation to let people know what is on your mind and why you’re doing this.

I think of art as coming from daily life, daily experience. I think it’s very important not to have it become work for some kind of elite circle.