We attempted perfection; we wanted an object to be without flaw, so we cut the papers with a razor, pasted them down meticulously, but it buckled and was ruined... that is why we decided to tear prewrinkled paper, so that in the finished work of art imperfection would be an integral part, as if at birth death were built in.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the beauty of embracing imperfections in art and life.
Hans Arp’s quote reflects the idea that striving for perfection can often lead to failure and frustration. Instead, by accepting and incorporating imperfections, one can create pieces of art that are more authentic and resonant, highlighting the inherent beauty in flaws—suggesting that just as life includes both birth and death, art should also acknowledge its own imperfections.
In practice
In a speech about artistic processes at a gallery opening, I might say, 'As Hans Arp reminds us, embracing imperfection can lead to the creation of truly unique works.'
Most architects think in drawings, or did think in drawings; today, they think on the computer monitor. I always tried to think three dimensionally. The interior eye of the brain should be not flat but three dimensional so that everything is an object in space. We are not living in a two-dimensional world.
I have a deep-seated distrust and even contempt for people who are driven by ambition to conquer the world … those who cannot control themselves and produce vast amounts of crap that no one cares about. I find it unattractive. I like the Zen artists: they’d do some work, and then they’d stop for a while.
I think people inspire me the most. If I meet a person who is incredibly complex, and all of a sudden, I start thinking in rhymes, that person could be a muse.
I think the mystery of art lies in this, that artists’ relationship is essentially with their work — not with power, not with profit, not with themselves, not even with their audience.
As authors evolve and try to trace the precedents that have shaped their work, it sometimes becomes a matter of identifying the shadowy figure in the back row of the mental photograph, or of grabbing at the tail of a memory that's just slipping out the window into thin air.
For me, music and life are all about style.
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