Marlene Dumas

Artist

Marlene Dumas is a South African artist known for her evocative paintings that explore themes of identity and emotion, particularly through the lens of human experience.

Born
January 3, 1953
Quotes
18
Rank
#766

About Marlene Dumas

Marlene Dumas — Life and Legacy

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

Marlene Dumas quotes

18 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"There is no beauty, if it doesn't show some of the terribleness of life."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"My best works are erotic displays of mental confusions.. with intrusions of irrelevant information."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"I do think that I'm not good at making pretty things. It doesn't come so naturally for me."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"I moved to Holland because I wanted to see American art."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"There are these painterly things that happen while I'm working."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"I have always been interested in how you can depict suffering without being heavy-handed."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"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."

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Marlene Dumas Artist
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"I never learned to ride a bicycle, and it is too late now. I never learned to drive. I never learned to swim."

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