brancusi on abstraction and essence

Jul 24

"They are imbeciles who call my work abstract.
That which they call abstract is the most realistic,
because what is real is not the exterior but the idea,
the essence of things."
Constantin Brancusi

I spotted a similar quotation from Jerzy Kosinksi on artist Carin Gerard’s Instagram account, @carin_gerard_art:
“The principle of true art is not to portray but to evoke.”

These words from sculptor Brancusi are so very Asian in approach—-the essence, the feeling of something, its energy—- not a photographic depiction of its exterior appearance.

I like finding quotations like this that are in alignment with my own approach — another reason I enjoy Instagram.