Chinese novelist & playwright (1940- )
On the first level, I think that in the 20th century, the problem of exile or alienation is particularly pronounced for writers and artists. A second level is the more spiritual level, that exile also means overcoming ideology and overcoming attitudes and overcoming trends, and so exile has also been a way of pursuing nothingism or overcoming ideology. A third level is that artists tend to be on the margins of society. So from that perspective, exile is a kind of appropriate mental state, at least for artists. This is a good thing. If you were in the center of society, you'd be receiving input and pressure from too many different areas, and that's not the kind of environment that an artist needs to cultivate his own creativity and his own thoughts.
GAO XINGJIAN
"A Conversation with Gao Xingjian", Asia Society
You contemplate and you wander without any worries, between heaven and earth, in your own private world, and in this way you acquire supreme freedom.
GAO XINGJIAN
Nocturnal Wanderer
When you're telling a story, you've got to give details.
GAO XINGJIAN
Dialogue and Rebuttal
I don't want to be a strong hero who can save society. I just want to save myself.
GAO XINGJIAN
The Guardian, Aug. 1, 2008