A work of art doesn't have to be explained. If you do not have any feeling about this, I cannot explain it to you. If this doesn't touch you, I have failed.
Louise BourgeoisRead
My childhood has never lost its magic, it has never lost its mystery, and it has never lost its drama.
Interpretation
The quote expresses the enduring wonder and complexity of childhood experiences.
In this quote, Louise Bourgeois reflects on the lasting impact of childhood on her life, emphasizing that the sense of magic, mystery, and drama inherent in those formative years continues to resonate within her. It suggests that the essence of childhood shapes one's perception and appreciation of life, highlighting the significance of our early experiences as a source of inspiration and depth.
In practice
During a speech about creativity, one might use this quote to illustrate the importance of retaining a sense of wonder throughout life.
A work of art doesn't have to be explained. If you do not have any feeling about this, I cannot explain it to you. If this doesn't touch you, I have failed.
Clothing is . . . an exercise in memory. It makes me explore the past: how did I feel when I wore that. They are like signposts in the search for the past.
Space is something that you have to define. Otherwise, it is like anxiety, which is too vague. A fear is something specific. I like claustrophobic spaces, because at least then you know your limits.
It is not so much where my motivation comes from but rather how it manages to survive.
I always had the fear of being separated and abandoned. The sewing is my attempt to keep things together and make things whole.
It is not a torment to be an artist. It is a privilege.
Many people try to avoid pressure, yet the absence of any tension or pressure usually creates a sense of boredom and the lackluster experience of life that so many people complain about.
So much pressure in this life of mine, I cry at times, I once contemplated suicide and woulda tried, but when I held that nine, all I could see was my mama's eyes, no one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble, not knowing it's hard to carry on when no one loves you.
My therapist says I still haven't got in touch with my anger. Maybe one day I'm going to explode. But I'm still really happy. I know it looks like a strange and painful upbringing - all those experiences led me to the paths that I'm on now.
With the draft, everybody was involved. Everybody was fodder. When you got to be 21, 22 and graduated from college, for two years your life stopped. If you had been running in the direction of your life, you had to stop and do this other thing which was, if not menacing, just plain boring.
The point of the journey is not just healing. It's also recovering the truest, most spontaneous, joyful, and creative core of ourselves.
It's been phenomenal, but everybody keeps congratulating me on my resurgence and my big comeback. I haven't been away, guys. I've been working steadily for the last 63 years.
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