I don't really trust ideas - especially good ones... Rather, I put my trust in the materials that confront me, because they put me in touch with the unknown. Robert Rauschenberg More Quotes by Robert Rauschenberg More Quotes From Robert Rauschenberg There is no reason not to consider the world as one gigantic painting. Robert Rauschenberg painting reason world I feel strong in my belief, based on my widely traveled collaborations, that a one-to-one contact through art contains potent peaceful powers, and is the most non-elitist way to share information, hopefully seducing us into creating mutual understandings for the benefit of all. Robert Rauschenberg creating strong art You begin with the possibilities of the material. Robert Rauschenberg possibility architecture art It is neither Art for Art, nor Art against Art. I am for Art, but for Art that has nothing to do with Art. Art has everything to do with life, but it has nothing to do with Art. Robert Rauschenberg art People ask me, 'Don't you ever run out of ideas?' In the first place I don't use ideas. Every time I have an idea it's too limiting, and usually turns out to be a disappointment. But I haven't run out of curiosity. Robert Rauschenberg disappointment running ideas Screwing things up is a virtue. Being correct is never the point. I have an almost fanatically correct assistant, and by the time she re-spells my words and corrects my punctuation, I can't read what I wrote. Being right can stop all the momentum of a very interesting idea. Robert Rauschenberg momentum ideas interesting I prefer images that are less specific, so there is room for everyone's imagination. Robert Rauschenberg imagination rooms I've not been cursed with talent, which could be a great inhibitor. Robert Rauschenberg cursed talent An empty canvas is full. Robert Rauschenberg empty-canvas canvas empty Understanding is a form of blindness. Good art, I think, can never be understood. Robert Rauschenberg understanding art thinking The artist's job is to be a witness to his time in history. Robert Rauschenberg artist jobs history I don't think of myself as making art. I do what I do because I want to, because painting is the best way I've found to get along with myself. Robert Rauschenberg contentment art thinking Curiosity is the main energy. Robert Rauschenberg curiosity energy imagination You can't make either life or art, you have to work in the hole in between, which is undefined. That's what makes the adventure of painting. Robert Rauschenberg painting adventure art My art is about paying attention - about the extremely dangerous possibility that you might be art. Robert Rauschenberg might attention art I don't want a picture to look like something it isn't. I want it to look like something it is. Robert Rauschenberg like-something want looks It's when you've found out how to do certain things, that it's time to stop doing them, because what's missing is that you're not including the risk. Robert Rauschenberg risk missing found It is impossible to have progress without conscience Robert Rauschenberg conscience progress impossible For me there is no difference between art and life. Robert Rauschenberg art-and-life differences art Even at this late date, I go into my studio, and I think 'Is this going to be it? Is it the end?' You see, nearly everything terrorizes me. When an artist loses that terror, he's through. Robert Rauschenberg artist fear thinking
