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Quote by John Baldessari

“I go back and forth between wanting to be abundantly simple and maddeningly complex.”

Quote by John Baldessari

Author

John Baldessari

John Baldessari is an influential American artist born on June 17, 1931. Known for his unique artistic style and conceptual art works, his art often explores the relationship between art and life, reality and fiction. more

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“I think the term 'conceptual art' is a useful term for writers, a basket to put people in, like Pop Art or Impressionism or whatever.”

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“I was always interested in language. I thought, why not? If a painting, by the normal definition of the term, is paint on canvas, why can't it be painted words on canvas?”

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“I think art, if it's meaningful at all, is a conversation with other artists. You say something, they say something, you move back and forth.”

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“Most of my friends are women. I think women are more interesting to talk to.”

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“If you're smart, you abandon the things that didn't work out so well, and you enlarge upon the things that seem to be successful.”

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“A lot of ideas don't translate very well into art. To say, "Oh my god, the grass is green ..." You're going to end up with a big green painting.”

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“I used to jokingly say, "I don't teach art. I'm an art doctor." Students come to me and say, "My art's sick," and we help them make it well.”

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“I think I live such a boring life. But I can't imagine any other kind of life, so I guess it's the life I want.”

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“I can't imagine a life without thinking, doing art. I don't feel any need to be a world traveler or an adventurer. I'm very happy doing what I'm doing. I think somehow I know that I should have a larger vision of art, but I can't think of what that would be.”

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