Art Quote by Lawrence Weiner
“There is a discrepancy of somebody going to an art dealer and promising what they'll make for the next three years. And I'm old fashioned that way; I think that every exhibition you make is supposed to put you in the world, that the next exhibition is spinning off of that. It's almost like a riff. And if you know what you're going to do for the next three years, why don't just do it the final point? You would think, in a progressive situation, that the final would be the best.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Artforum interview, 1995
The quote critiques planning art exhibitions far in advance, urging artists to let each show organically lead to the next rather than rigidly mapping years ahead.
In simple terms: Artists should let each exhibition naturally shape future work.
Key Takeaway
Embrace organic progression over strict long‑term planning.
Themes
creativity
process
artistic development
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- gallery shows
- artist residencies
- curatorial planning
- project proposals
Key Concepts
art theory
organic evolution
career trajectory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does rigid scheduling affect artistic freedom?
- Can flexibility improve the relevance of future work?
A Different Perspective
Long‑term plans can stifle spontaneity and responsiveness to new ideas.
![“What interested me the most was that when I [traveled to Europe] I knew what Joseph Beuys was doing, he knew what I was doing, and we both, we just started to talk. How did I know what Daniel Buren was doing, and to an extent, he knew exactly what I was doing? How did everybody know? It's an…” quote by Lawrence Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/de8/lawrence-weiner-17466_artist_what-interested-me-the-most-was-that-whe_152283.jpg)
