Very quickly a painting is turned into a facsimile of itself when one becomes so familiar with with it that one recognizes it without looking at it.
Robert RauschenbergRead
I usually work in a direction until I know how to do it, then I stop. At the time that I am bored or understand - I use those words interchangeably - another appetite has formed. A lot of people try to think up ideas. I'm not one. I'd rather accept the irresistible possibilities of what I can't ignore.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of pursuing passion and creativity until it naturally evolves into something new.
Robert Rauschenberg highlights his creative process, indicating that he immerses himself in his work until he reaches a point of either boredom or understanding, at which point he allows his curiosity to lead him to new ideas. Instead of forcing creativity or trying to think up concepts, he prefers to embrace the opportunities that present themselves when he is truly engaged and inspired by his work.
Themes
CreativityArtInspirationProcessCuriosity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about artistic inspiration during a gallery talk.
More from Robert Rauschenberg
All quotes →I never allowed myself the luxury of those brilliant, beautiful colors until I went to India and saw people walking around in them or dragging them in the mud. I realised they were not so artificial.
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I'm not so facile that I can accomplish or find out what I want to know or explore enough of the possibilities and a way of making a painting, say, in just one painting or two paintings.
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My art is about paying attention - about the extremely dangerous possibility that you might be art.
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The artist's job is to be a witness to his time in history.
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There was a whole language that I could never make function for myself in relationship to painting, and that was attitudes like tortured, struggle, pain.
Robert RauschenbergRead
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