I paint what cannot be photographed, that which comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive.
Man RayRead
I like contradictions. We have never attained the infinite variety and contradictions that exist in nature. Tomorrow I shall contradict myself. That is the one way I have of asserting my liberty, the real liberty one does not find as a member of society.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Embracing contradictions is a way to assert one's freedom from societal norms.
This quote by Man Ray emphasizes the beauty of contradictions and the complexity of nature, suggesting that true liberty involves the acceptance of conflicting ideas. By acknowledging that one may contradict themselves, it reflects a deep understanding of personal freedom, separate from societal expectations and limitations.
Themes
ContradictionFreedomLibertyNatureSociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophical discussion on freedom, I might say, 'As Man Ray put it, I like contradictions.'
More from Man Ray
All quotes →I do not photograph nature. I photograph my visions.
Man RayRead
l photograph what l do not wish to paint and l paint that which l cannot photograph.
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Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask 'how', while others of a more curious nature will ask 'why'. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.
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Dada cannot live in New York. All New York is dada, and will not tolerate a rival.
Man RayRead
Nature does not create works of art. It is we, and the faculty of interpretation peculiar to the human mind, that see art.
Man RayRead
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