I begin with an idea, but as I work, the picture takes over. Then there is the struggle between the idea I preconceived... and the picture that fights for its own life. Georg Baselitz More Quotes by Georg Baselitz More Quotes From Georg Baselitz The artist is not responsible to any one. His social role is asocial... his only responsibility consists in an attitude to the work he does. Georg Baselitz artist responsibility attitude What counts most is finding new ways to get the world down in paint on my own terms. Georg Baselitz way world art Women don't paint very well. It's a fact. There are, of course, exceptions. Agnes Martin or, from the past, Paula Modersohn-Becker. Georg Baselitz paint facts past I have always had the feeling that other people are too stupid to discover interesting things. That's why I do it myself. I think of collecting as a way to show that I understand what's important better than others do. Georg Baselitz stupid people thinking An object painted upside down is suitable for painting because it is unsuitable as an object. Georg Baselitz upside-down objects painting I don't paint over my paintings with black paint. I paint black paintings. It isn't because I'm sad, just as I didn't paint red paintings yesterday because I was happy. Nor will I paint yellow paintings tomorrow because I'm jealous. Georg Baselitz jealous black tomorrow I would say for everyday I build buildings or houses like a bricklayer with canvas and paint. Georg Baselitz canvas everyday house I had always loved expressionist painting, like every European. In fact I admired it all the more because these were precisely the paintings despised by my father's generation. Georg Baselitz generations europe father What I could never escape was Germany, and being German. Georg Baselitz germany Art is visceral and vulgar - it's an eruption. Georg Baselitz visceral eruption art That was in 1957. And there I found out that Germany is a kind of province. I didn't know anything about expressionism, about the Bauhaus and Dada and surrealism. I was uneducated, so to speak - and everybody else was more or less uneducated, too. Georg Baselitz surrealism kind speak Most of arts what comes from the States to Europe has something to do with entertainment. I can't imagine artists in the United States having the same kind of isolated position that we have here in Europe. I have a feeling one lives more publically in the States. Georg Baselitz kind feelings art I hang my work upside down to emphasize surface. Georg Baselitz exhibitions surface upside-down I dont want to create a monster; I want to make something which is new, exceptional, something that only I do...something that references tradition, but is still new. Georg Baselitz tradition want monsters A citizen sticks to conventions, does whatever is social. Artists, of course, must reject all conventions. I see no differently in reconciling the best of both of these worlds. Georg Baselitz artist world I don't see art as entertainment. Georg Baselitz art A painter doesn't need any talent. In fact, it's better not to have it. Georg Baselitz painter talent You cannot deny your origins: I love Kirchner more than Matisse, although Matisse was a greater artist. That isn't to do with nationality. It's a stronger feeling. Georg Baselitz patriotism artist feelings As a human being, I am a citizen, but as an artist, I am asocial. Georg Baselitz artist I have always been aware of different movements and directions in art. But, in general, I'm always bored by any kind of generalization when it comes to artists. I think that there are just single individuals, who are valuable, and they work outside of any group. Georg Baselitz work-out art thinking
