Sweet Nothings. Notes and Texts Quotes

“I write about my own work because I want to speak for myself. I might not be the only authority, nor the best authority, but I want to participate in the writing of my own history. Why should artists be validated by outside authorities. I don't like being paternalised and colonised by every Tom, Dick or Harry that comes along (male or female).”
― Marlene Dumas, Sweet Nothings. Notes and Texts

“I can see why many visual artists
dislike words in artworks. They feel
that words dirty the clear water that
has to reflect the sky. It disturbs
the pleasure of the silent image,
the freedom from history, the beauty
of nameless forms.

(...)

I know that neither images nor words,
can escape the drunkenness and
longing caused by the turning
of the world.
Words and images drink the same wine.
There is no purity to protect.”
― Marlene Dumas, Sweet Nothings. Notes and Texts

“I like to read about art. It also stimulates me to go and do something totally different in the middle of a sentence, or afterwards, like picking up a paintbrush for example. It is only that due to the overload of art historians, artists and other artrelated people, we are flooded by an overload of insipid writings, to such an extent that when you get to the right thing, you are too tired to read it.”
― Marlene Dumas, Sweet Nothings. Notes and Texts

“Artwork is not synonymous to intention. It is peculiar that although almost everybody says artworks don't give answers, they seem to be sure that a good work asks questions. It sounds like the other side of the same coin to me.”
― Marlene Dumas, Sweet Nothings. Notes and Texts

“IF a Prostitute is a person
who makes it a profession
to gratify the lust of various persons
for economical reasons or gain,
where emotional involvement may
or may not be present -

THEN it seems not so far removed
from my definition of an artist.
Artists usually love to pretend.
Artists usually pretend to love
much more than they can handle.
They want everyone to want them
while they don't want anybody.”
― Marlene Dumas, Sweet Nothings. Notes and Texts

“IF a Prostitute is a person /
who makes it a profession /
to gratify the lust of various persons /
for economical reasons or gain, /
where emotional involvement may /
or may not be present - /

THEN it seems not so far removed /
from my definition of an artist. /
Artists usually love to pretend. /
Artists usually pretend to love /
much more than they can handle. /
They want everyone to want them /
while they don't want anybody.”
― Marlene Dumas, Sweet Nothings. Notes and Texts