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
Even though what I do does enter the market, it doesn't interest me. I am exclusively concerned with the formal qualities of my work. It is about the need and the right to self-expression.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of self-expression in artistic work over commercial appeal.
Louise Bourgeois highlights that the essence of her artwork is rooted in formal qualities and personal self-expression rather than market demands. This perspective reflects a deep commitment to authenticity and individuality in the creative process, suggesting that artists should prioritize their inner voice and experiences when creating, rather than being swayed by external pressures and commercial interests.
Themes
Self-ExpressionArtAuthenticityFormal QualitiesIndividuality
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creative freedom, an artist might quote Bourgeois to emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself.
More from Louise Bourgeois
All quotes →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.
Louise BourgeoisRead
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.
Louise BourgeoisRead
It is not so much where my motivation comes from but rather how it manages to survive.
Louise BourgeoisRead
I always had the fear of being separated and abandoned. The sewing is my attempt to keep things together and make things whole.
Louise BourgeoisRead
It is not a torment to be an artist. It is a privilege.
Louise BourgeoisRead
Similar quotes
For me, the creation of a photograph is experienced as a heightened emotional response, most akin to poetry and music, each image the culmination of a compelling impulse I cannot deny. Whether working with a human figure or a still life, I am deeply aware of my spiritual connection with it. In my life, as in my work, I am motivated by a great yearning for balance and harmony beyond the realm of human experience, reaching for the essence of oneness with the Universe.
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A lot of what acting is is paying attention.
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The most extraordinary discoveries are made when the artist is overwhelmed by what he has to say.
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The problem with too beautiful a view is that it's alright for the mulling stage. But for the writing stage, you want to be somewhere without a view, especially if it is very different from what you're writing.
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The slightest thing can ruin a scene, but you must be willing to take chances.
William WylerRead