"Painting doesn't freeze time. It circulates and recycles time like a wheel that turns. Those who were first might well be last. Painting is a very slow art. It doesn't travel with the speed of light. That's why dead painters shine so bright."
About Marlene Dumas
Marlene Dumas is a prominent South African painter celebrated for her intense exploration of identity and emotion in her art. Her work, such as 'The Painter,' delves into the complexities of human experience, often reflecting on the interplay between personal and collective identities. Dumas's quotes reveal her deep understanding of the human condition, as she states, 'the body is a site of memory,' highlighting how our physical existence is intertwined with our emotional and historical narratives. Her artistic philosophy challenges conventional norms, urging viewers to confront their vulnerabilities and embrace authenticity. Dumas's emphasis on emotion is evident in her belief that art should resonate with raw feelings, allowing for a profound connection between the artwork and the audience. By stating that vulnerability can be a source of strength, she invites a re-examination of how we perceive ourselves and others. Today, Dumas's insights remain relevant as they encourage a deeper dialogue about identity, emotion, and societal expectations. Her quotes not only reflect her unique perspective but also inspire others to engage with the complexities of their own experiences, making her work a vital part of contemporary discourse on art and identity.
Quote collection
18 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Painting doesn't freeze time. It circulates and recycles time like a wheel that turns. Those who were first might well be last. Painting is a very slow art. It doesn't travel with the speed of light. That's why dead painters shine so bright."
"There is no beauty, if it doesn't show some of the terribleness of life."
"No painting can exist without the tension of what it figures and what it concretely consists of. The pleasure of what it could mean and the pain of what it's not."
"My best works are erotic displays of mental confusions.. with intrusions of irrelevant information."
"When Black and White are colors and not races, people will still fall in love and discriminate between partners and feel sad and bad and need art that breaks your heart and takes you to those places where pain becomes beauty."
"What a funny thing painting is. The abstract painters always insist on their connection with the visible reality, while the so called figurative artists insist that what they really care about, is the abstract qualities of life."
"I do think that I'm not good at making pretty things. It doesn't come so naturally for me."
"Drawings are only a few lines on paper. Therefore it's easy to carry around in plastic bags. Drawings are cheaper than paintings. They don't pretend they'll last forever."
"I moved to Holland because I wanted to see American art."
"The demi-monde does not represent the crowd of courtesans, but the class of declassed women It is divided from that of honest women by public scandal, and divided from that of the courtesans by money."
"At the moment my art is situated between the pornographic tendency to reveal everything and the erotic inclination to hide what it's all about."
"There are these painterly things that happen while I'm working."
"I'm always so sick of myself after a show."
"I am against: general ideas / the nude / the appropriation of images / the mystification of the untitled / the glorification of artistic doubt / the fuzzy edges of sensitivity / old sins / and useless guilt."
"I have always been interested in how you can depict suffering without being heavy-handed."
"The best works do not necessarily get to auction. I like to draw, so maybe I give you a little drawing. And then eventually it ends up at auction. And then critics say, 'Oh, that's a bad drawing!' Well, I didn't say it was so wonderful."
"I never learned to ride a bicycle, and it is too late now. I never learned to drive. I never learned to swim."
"I think I am probably a lot like my father."