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.

If a master, a wise and experienced man, wields a great weapon, that's beautiful. He can serve peace with it. But if someone's emotions are imbalanced, even if he has the best equipment, he will still mean danger. Modern technology requires calm. You shouldn't trust anyone with a car who has no knowledge about vehicles or roads.

The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008. During the earthquake many schools collapsed. Thousands of young students lost their lives, and you could see bags and study material everywhere. Then you realize individual life, media, and the lives of the students are serving very different purposes. The lives of the students disappeared within the state propaganda, and very soon everybody will forget everything.

Dictatorship is a story about death of others who turn out to be you coincidently.

I think everybody deserves freedom. Freedom is such an abstract word, but it's all we need.

The tragic reality of today is reflected in the true plight of our spiritual existence. We are spineless and cannot stand straight.

Warhol influenced me because of his writing. If I had never read his writings and interviews, I would never have understood his work.