I am interested in a political art, that is to say an art of ambiguity, contradiction, uncompleted gestures and uncertain ending - an art (and a politics) in which optimism is kept in check, and nihilism at bay.
William KentridgeRead
The drawings don't start with 'a beautiful mark'. It has to be a mark of something out there in the world. It doesn't have to be an accurate drawing, but it has to stand for an observation, not something that is abstract, like an emotion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Art should represent something real in the world rather than abstract emotions.
William Kentridge emphasizes that the essence of drawing lies in capturing observations from the world around us rather than focusing solely on abstract emotional expressions. He suggests that true artistic expression comes from interpreting reality, even if the representation is not perfect, underscoring the importance of grounding art in tangible experiences and observations.
Themes
ArtObservationCreativityRealityRepresentation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for an art workshop discussing the foundations of drawing and creativity.
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If you're going to be honest with yourself, you have to admit that you go into show business wanting people to talk about you and wanting everyone to know who you are. But that also means there are going to be a whole bunch of people who don't like you. No matter who you are.
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