Behind every political deal in this country, the first casualties are always the ordinary people, who are barely treated as human.

Art is always about overcoming obstacles between the inner condition and the skill for expression.

Artists are the worst [people]. They are selfish, self-centred; they don't care what happens.

This week, the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of for 100 years. People have been longing for this moment, because it symbolises a turning point in China's relationship with the outside world.

My typical day is I wake up and appreciate that I can still wake up.

People have a tendency to become elite rather than to care about the general conditions of the society, which makes me sick. It's an unbearable condition.

I'm totally independent. I don't bear any responsibility to any system.