My parents are both college professors, and it made me want to question authority, standards and traditions.
Maya LinRead
I cannot force a design; I do not see this process as being under my conscious control.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creativity is often an unconscious process that cannot be forced.
Maya Lin's quote reflects the intricate nature of the creative process, suggesting that true design and artistic expression cannot be dictated or controlled consciously. Instead, it is a fluid and organic journey that emerges from within, highlighting the importance of allowing creativity to unfold naturally rather than trying to impose strict control over it.
Themes
CreativityDesignArtistic ProcessControlExpression
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a creative workshop to encourage participants to trust their instincts.
More from Maya Lin
All quotes →I try to give people a different way of looking at their surroundings. That's art to me.
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How we are using up our home, how we are living and polluting the planet is frightening. It was evident when I was a child. It's more evident now.
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Sometimes you have to stop thinking. Sometimes you shut down completely. I think that's true in any creative field.
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A lot of my works deal with a passage, which is about time. I don't see anything that I do as a static object in space. It has to exist as a journey in time.
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When I was building the Vietnam Memorial, I never once asked the veterans what it was like in the war, because from my point of view, you don't pry into other people's business.
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