quote for the day . . .

"In Western art education, there is greater emphasis on each person's individuality. This is different from the Chinese academic system in which there are pre-existing standards. This question does not exist in Western art education; the idea of a "standard" is flawed in the first place. That is because artistic creation should deny standards in the name of updating sensation, thought and artistic concepts to find a method and a style, a basic individual creative specialty. Guided by this spirit, no matter what materials or methods you use, you will be respected and encouraged, anything can become a very good work. Of course, an instructor will raise his own aesthetic views; but he will not use his own standard to judge his student's work, emphasizing instead the student's own developmental attitude. For example, an honor guard marching down the street has its own way of walking, but you cannot require a tightrope walker walk in this same manner. Everyone has their own special manner, any one of which can appear as a different kind of perfection." Ai Weiwei, from White Cover Book (Baipishu), edited by Ai Weiwei and Feng Boyi, privately published, Beijing, 1995.