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I shall call modern that art which ... presents the fact…

“I shall call modern that art which ... presents the fact that the unpresentable exists. To make visible that there is something which can be conceived and which can neither be seen nor made visible.” quote by Jean-François Lyotard
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““I shall call modern that art which ... presents the fact that the unpresentable exists. To make visible that there is something which can be conceived and which can neither be seen nor made visible.””

Jean-François Lyotard

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Art should reveal the existence of concepts that cannot be directly seen or represented.

In simple terms: Show the unseen.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the invisible in creative work.

Themes

art philosophy modernism

Mood

thoughtful introspective

Type

theoretical conceptual

When to use this quote

  • museum curation
  • theoretical writing
  • visual experiments
  • educational curricula

Key Concepts

representation the unpresentable conceptual art

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we communicate ideas that defy visual representation?
  • What responsibilities do artists have when depicting the unpresentable?
A Different Perspective

Risk of alienating audiences who prefer concrete images.

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