"The idea of space is given to the artist to change if he can. The subject matter in the abstract is space."

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Source : Willem De Kooning, John Elderfield, Lauren Mahony (2011). “De Kooning: A Retrospective”, p.13, The Museum of Modern Art

Willem de Kooning

#Artist Quotes #Space Quotes #Ideas Quotes

“But optics sharp it needs, I ween, To see what is not to be seen.”

Source : John Trumbull (1839). “M'Fingal: a modern epic poem, in four cantos”, p.7
“You don't need more time in your day. You need to decide.”
“A man polished to the nail. [Lat., Ad unguem factus home.]”
“Sometimes we ask ourselves 'Why?' Why do I continue to smile, to give, to live? Why do I continue to stand, despite the ferocity of the wind that keeps blowing, that keeps slapping against my face, creating a pressure that says 'fall'? Why I don't I listen to those who call me a fool because I continue to love despite my hurt? I don't know what tomorrow brings; I don't know if my troubles will seize or if my sorrows will continue. But this much I do know - I will continue to hold out, I will continue to press on, until my blessing comes.”
“I don't believe in hitting a bad shot and then insisting it's no big deal. No, you just messed up, so react. I'm not saying you need to throw your club. I mean, take 10 seconds to get angry at yourself, but then start over.”
“Most important, however, is the third avenue to meaning in life: even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, may grow beyond himself, and by so doing change himself. He may turn a personal tragedy into a triumph.”
“I always have to have my lipstick. Sometimes I have more than one shade: start with one color for the morning, one for night. Sometimes I have a couple shades just in case I need something more powerful for the day.”
“The unexamined life is not worth living. But if all you're doing is examining, then you're not living!”

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