A man climbs a mountain because it is there. An artist makes a work of art because it is not there.
Carl AndreRead
My art springs from my desire to have things in the world which would otherwise never be there.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the artist's drive to create and introduce new elements to the world through their art.
In this quote, Carl Andre expresses the intrinsic motivation behind his artistic creation. He implies that art arises from a deep-seated desire to manifest new ideas, forms, and experiences that do not exist in the world without the artist's vision and effort. It emphasizes the role of artists as creators who enhance reality by adding beauty and thought-provoking elements, ultimately serving to inspire and connect people through new expressions.
Themes
ArtCreationDesireInnovationExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on the importance of creativity at a school graduation.
More from Carl Andre
All quotes βMy art will reflect not necessarily conscious politics but the unanalysed politics of my life.
Carl AndreRead
Every time you work, you have to do it all over again, to rid yourself of this dross. I suppose for a person who is not an artist or not attempting art, it is not dross, because it is the common exchange of everyday life.
Carl AndreRead
Similar quotes
There's this inherent screenplay structure that everyone seems to be stuck on, this three-act thing. It doesn't really interest me. To me, it's kind of like saying, 'Well, when you do a painting, you always need to have sky here, the person here and the ground here.' Well, you don't.
Charlie KaufmanRead
There are millions of chords. There are millions of numbers. And everyone forgets the one that is a zero. But without the zero, numbers are just arithmetic. Without the empty chord, music is just noise.
Terry PratchettRead
You are both a work of art and an artist at work.
Erwin McmanusRead
He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion... no, make that: he - he romanticized it all out of proportion. Yes. To him, no matter what the season was, this was still a town that existed in black and white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin.
Woody AllenRead
I don't profess to have music as my big wheel and there are a number of other things as important to me apart from music. Theatre and mime, for instance.
David BowieRead
If I create with my heart almost all my intentions remain. If it is with the head - almost nothing. An artist must not fear to be himself, to express only himself. If he is absolutely and entirely sincere, what he says and does will be acceptable to others.
Marc ChagallRead