Art Quote by Ben Okri
“Wholeness is the enemy of the artist. We ought to be broken, ruined in some way.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Famished Road by Ben Okri, 1991
The artist must embrace imperfection and fragmentation to stay creative, as wholeness limits imagination.
In simple terms: Artists need brokenness to stay creative.
Key Takeaway
Accept and use brokenness.
Themes
creativity
imperfection
artistic process
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- painting
- music composition
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology of art
Questions to Reflect On
- How does brokenness fuel your art?
- What parts of yourself feel too whole?
A Different Perspective
Being too whole can stifle innovation.
![“He [the artist] ought to have 'these powerful organs of expression' - colour and chiaroscuro - entirely at his command, that he may use them in every possible form, as well as that he may do with the most perfect freedom; therefore, whether he wishes to make the subject of a joyous, solemn, or…” quote by John Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/df3/john-constable-11301_appearance_he-the-artist-ought-to-have-these-powerf_795848.jpg)
