Approach Quote by Claes Oldenburg
“I am preoccupied with the possibility of creating art which functions in a public situation without compromising its private character of being antiheroic, antimonumental, antiabstract, and antigeneral. The paradox is intensified by the use on a grand scale of small-scale subjects known from intimate situations--an approach which tends in turn to reduce the scale of the real landscape to imaginary dimensions.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Artforum, 1975
The artist wants to make public art that keeps a private, anti‑heroic, non‑monumental, non‑abstract, non‑general feel, using intimate small subjects on a large scale, which blurs reality and imagination.
In simple terms: Public art should stay intimate and anti‑heroic despite its size.
Key Takeaway
Embrace intimacy in large works.
Themes
art
public space
identity
paradox
scale
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
conceptual
theoretical
When to use this quote
- gallery installations
- urban murals
- public performances
- community projects
Key Concepts
anti‑heroism
anti‑monumentalism
anti‑abstraction
anti‑generality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can large works retain a private, intimate voice?
- What risks arise when scaling intimate subjects?
A Different Perspective
Balancing public visibility with private intent can dilute the intended anti‑heroic message.
