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Quote by Vito Acconci

“Architecture is inherently a totalitarian activity. One thing we hate about it is that when you design a space, you're probably designing people's behavior in that space. I don't know if we know how to change that, but our goal is to make spaces for people rather than people being subservient to spaces.”

Quote by Vito Acconci

Author

Vito Acconci (January 24, 1940 – April 28, 2017) was an American designer, performance artist, and architect. He first gained fame for his provocative performance and conceptual art, later transitioning to architecture and design, founding Acconci Studio. His work blurs the lines between art and architecture, emphasizing the interaction between space and the body. Key works include 'Seedbed' and 'Following Piece.' Acconci is considered a pioneer in public art and experimental architecture, influencing generations of artists and designers. more

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“I wish we could make buildings that could constantly explode and come back in different ways. The idea of a changing environment suggests that if your environment changes all the time, then maybe your ideas will change all the time.”

Different Wish Environment Building Our Environment

Author:Vito Acconci

“When a building is so complete within itself, I always think, "Why do I even have to go inside it?" I would love to do architecture that people can have a free hand in the making of it. We've done spaces where things are hinged and they can go out or in, but that's not freedom. That's supermarket freedom, or the notion that you can have anything you want as long as the supermarket carries it. We would love to do a space where you go inside and there's nothing there. You might have a seat and when you don't need it anymore you get up and it disappears.”

People Thinking Long Done Building Disappear Architecture

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“What connects architecture and music is that neither one is really an object. It's more like an ambience, a surrounding and a context. You can do other things while you're listening to music and of course, you can do other things while you're in the middle of architecture. The notion of multi-attention seems to me like it's the keynote to the beginning of the 21st century.”

Listening Music Is Architecture 21st Century Listening To Music

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“I like the idea of defying the convention of what it is to be in your 40s, or 50s, or 60s.”

Ideas Conventions Defying

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“Public space can be a lot better with some private space to contradict it and vice versa. It keeps the system alive. If the system is just one thing, then it's closed and it eventually dies.”

Author:Vito Acconci

“I like intersections. They're the nature of New York, and there's always the possibility that when you're at one you can meet someone new. Have I ever met anyone new at an intersection? No, but I like the idea of it. I like cities because if you're stopping on the corner to wait for a light to change, there's the possibility that you and somebody else can talk. And if you and that somebody else start to talk, then you can start to argue, and if you start to argue, you might start a revolution.”

Waiting Possibility Revolution Arguing

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“As a kid I learned notions of art and notions of not having any money.”

Author:Vito Acconci

“It was an incredible way to grow up, because words that you're taught - these definite things - you realize they sort of beautifully fall apart; that words are tenuous. In the middle of a large word, there's a small word that possibly contradicts the larger word. So I grew up where, on the one hand, the only thing I would ever think of doing was something in writing, music, or art, and on the other hand, I could've reacted strongly against it because it would've been a way to rebel.”

Thinking Writing Art Fall Realizing Growing Up Incredibles Rebel Falling Apart

Author:Vito Acconci

“The great thing about the Guggenheim is that you can see art in the fastest way if you want to. Which isn't bad. It's almost like Frank Lloyd Wright didn't know something called the Internet was going to exist, so he made it so you can go down as fast as possible.”

Art Internet Great Things Frank

Author:Vito Acconci

“I always thought, I can't waste time, I have to do work. I also thought that I was slower than other people, that I had to concentrate more. I always thought, I'm not brilliant, I have to work. That was something I embedded in myself very early: I have to go home and write. But did I get any more work done than people like Frank O'Hara, who were always going to parties? Probably not.”

People Writing Done Home Party Brilliant Wasting Time Frank Embedded

Author:Vito Acconci