I hope I have made it clear that the work is about perfection as we are aware of it in our minds but that the paintings are very far from being perfect – completely removed in fact – even as we ourselves are.
AGNES MARTINI hope I have made it clear that the work is about perfection as we are aware of it in our minds but that the paintings are very far from being perfect – completely removed in fact – even as we ourselves are.
AGNES MARTINMy paintings are not about what is seen. They are about what is known forever in the mind.
AGNES MARTINNature is like parting a curtain, you go into it …. as you would cross an empty beach to look at the ocean.
AGNES MARTINThe Minimalists are idealist. They want to minimise themselves in favour of the ideal. But I just can’t. You see, my paintings are not cool.
AGNES MARTINThe artist works by awareness of his own state of mind.
AGNES MARTINYou must find the things that you do like. The things that are acceptable to your mind.
AGNES MARTINWhat we really want to do is serve happiness. We want everyone to be happy, never unhappy even for a moment. We want the animals to be happy.
AGNES MARTINThe adventurous state of mind is a high house… The joy of adventure is unaccountable.
AGNES MARTINThe manipulation of materials in an artwork is a result of this state of mind.
AGNES MARTINWhat I say is that we’re capable of a transcendent response, and I think it makes us happy. And I do think beauty produces a transcendent response.
AGNES MARTINWhen I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection.
AGNES MARTINI think our minds respond to things beyond this world. Take beauty: it’s a very mysterious thing, isn’t it?
AGNES MARTINMy paintings are certainly nonobjective. They’re just horizontal lines.
AGNES MARTINI used to meditate until I learned to stop thinking.
AGNES MARTINPollock was terrific. I think he freed himself of all kinds of worry about this world. Ran around and dripped, and then he managed to express ecstasy.
AGNES MARTINI’m very careful not to have ideas, because they’re inaccurate.
AGNES MARTIN