So be my passing! My task accomplished and the long day done, My wages taken, and in my heart Some late lark singing, Let me be gathered in the quiet west, The sundown splendid and serene, Death.
William Ernest HenleyRead
It is the artist's function not to copy but to synthesise: to eliminate from that gross confusion of actuality which is his raw material whatever is accidental, idle, irrelevant, and select for perpetuation that only which is appropriate and immortal.
Interpretation
An artist’s role is to filter and reinterpret reality, highlighting what is meaningful and enduring.
This quote emphasizes the unique role of an artist in transforming the chaotic elements of reality into something cohesive and profound. Rather than simply imitating what they see, artists are tasked with distilling their experiences and observations, focusing on what is essential and timeless, and presenting it in a way that resonates with others.
In practice
During an art critique session, I quoted Henley to emphasize the importance of selection in an artist's work.
So be my passing! My task accomplished and the long day done, My wages taken, and in my heart Some late lark singing, Let me be gathered in the quiet west, The sundown splendid and serene, Death.
Were I so tall as to reach the pole or grasp the ocean at a span, I must be measured by my soul. The mind is the standard of the man.
Here is the ghost _x000D_ _x000D_ Of a summer that lived for us, _x000D_ _x000D_ Ere is a promise _x000D_ _x000D_ Of summer to be.
I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.
You're allowed to bore your friends and family, but to bore your audience is unforgivable.
I search for surprise in my architecture. A work of art should cause the emotion of newness.
What makes international cinema so interesting is that each territory has its own sensibility. When you look at an Indian or French film, there's a certain flavor. And even though the language is different, if the film is successful, it has something very common and understandable.
Classical music is a special taste like Greek language or pre-Columbian archeology, not a common culture of reciprocal communication and psychological shorthand.
A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.
Never try to convey your idea to the audience - it is a thankless and senseless task. Show them life, and they'll find within themselves the means to assess and appreciate it.
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