“An original is a creation motivated by desire. Any reproduction of an original is motivated by necessity. The original is the result of an automatic process, the reproduction, of a mechanical process. In other words: Inspiration then information; each validates the other. All other considerations are beyond the scope of these statements. It is marvelous that we are the only species that creates gratuitous forms. To create is divine, to reproduce is human.” — Man Ray
Man Ray (1890-1976) Portrait of Kiki 1923 Oil on canvas 24 1/8 x 18 in. Price realised USD 1,623,000
Vincent van Gogh’s last words were “La tristesse durera toujours”, which translates to “The sadness will last forever.” He had shot himself in the chest at the age of 37, although had managed to walk back to the Auberge Ravoux, where two doctors tended to him, but were unable to remove the bullet. He uttered his last words to his brother before his death.
Refers to a certain gallery aesthetic characterised by its square or oblong shape, white walls and a light source usually from the ceiling
The aesthetic was introduced in the early twentieth century in response to the increasing abstraction of modern art. With an emphasis on colour and light, artists from groups like De Stijl and the Bauhaus preferred to exhibit their works against white walls in order to minimise distraction. The white walls were also thought to act as a frame, rather like the borders of a photograph. A parallel evolution in architecture and design provided the right environment for the art.
In 1976 Brian O’Doherty wrote a series of essays for Artforum magazine, later turned into a book called Inside the White Cube, in which he confronted the modernist obsession with the white cube arguing that every object became almost sacred inside it, making the reading of art problematic.
