--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For example, they recently had a piece on…" description: "\"“For example, they recently had a piece on a character--I think his name was Ambrosio D'Urbervilles--whose \"design statement\" was to stuff an entire ap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/mark-helprin-1171_architecture_for-example-they-recently-had-a-piece-on_2941564.jpg" --- # For example, they recently had a piece on a character--I… ![“For example, they recently had a piece on a character--I think his name was Ambrosio D'Urbervilles--whose "design statement" was to stuff an entire apartment from floor to ceiling with dark purple cottonballs. He called it "Portrait of a Dead Camel Dancing on the Roof of a Steambath.” quote by Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/mark-helprin-1171_architecture_for-example-they-recently-had-a-piece-on_2941564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/mark-helprin-1171_architecture_for-example-they-recently-had-a-piece-on_2941564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/mark-helprin-1171_architecture_for-example-they-recently-had-a-piece-on_2941564.jpg) > ““For example, they recently had a piece on a character--I think his name was Ambrosio D'Urbervilles--whose "design statement" was to stuff an entire apartment from floor to ceiling with dark purple cottonballs. He called it "Portrait of a Dead Camel Dancing on the Roof of a Steambath.”” [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character creates an absurdly lavish art piece, highlighting excess and surreal imagination. **In simple terms:** A bizarre art piece shows absurd excess. Key Takeaway Question the value of extravagance in art. Themes art absurdity excess imagination culture Mood reflective quirky Type literary artistic When to use this quote - gallery curation - art criticism - personal projects - public installations Key Concepts surrealism aesthetic critique creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What makes art meaningful versus ostentatious? - How does absurdity affect perception? A Different Perspective Excess may alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Called Portrait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-portrait-4387233/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Design Statement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design-statement-4387235/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Piece Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piece-character-1106866/) [Recently Piece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recently-piece-4387234/) [Urbervilles Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urbervilles-design-4387232/) ## Related quotes > [With couture, the great thing is that each piece has its own character, and you have space to explore and continue themes season after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/with-couture-the-great-thing-is-that-each-piece-has-its-own-character/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [It's weird, not to sound too actor but I think that any time you do a performance, you kind of take a little piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/it-s-weird-not-to-sound-too-actor-but-i-think-that-any-time-you-do-a/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [Winning a competition in architecture is a ticket to oblivion. 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You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [When I am asked what I believe in, I say that I believe in architecture. Architecture is the mother of the arts. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meier/when-i-am-asked-what-i-believe-in-i-say-that-i-believe-in/) [Richard Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meier/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. 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