Ars poetica

The artist is the Prophet.

The artist goes into the world beyond this world.

The artist is not a creator, but a discoverer.

The artist is not a lonely ranger, sitting at the top of the mountain, talking alone to some God. 

The artist is the voice that screams in the desert.

The artist is felt deep inside, the anguish, the pain, the desire, the yearning.

The artist finds order in chaos.

The artist exists.

No work of art should be made that does not contain the last drop of blood.

No work of art should be made that does not plunge the spectator into madness.

No work of art should be made.

The artist shall die some day, but not while there is so much pain in the world.

The artist is not the Messiah, nor does s/he herald him.

The artist just cannot cope with the visions.

The artist lies within you.

We do not listen to the artist.

We do not want to listen to the artist.

We were always told not to listen to the artist.

The artist is dangerous.

The artist is not quantifiable.

The artist is unpredictable.

The artist is honest.

The artist does not pretend to be someone else.

We were told that what we do is wrong.

We were told to fill in the lines.

No work of art should be made that follows the lines.

No work of art should be made in the dark corridors of this great old cathedral.

No work of art should be made without the screams of the thousands of souls in the deep corners of the world.

The artist will hold you on your last moments.

The artist will not tell you what you want to listen.

The artist will be unpleasant.

The artist should be unpleasant.

But, in the end, you will know the truth.

In the end, you will realize.

There is nothing more important than this.

Painting by Käthe Kollwitz