--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to make new works of very…" description: "\"I wanted to make new works of very contemporary objects, which I thought was interesting because many of them are manufactured in China, but these obje..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/michael-craig-martin-9157_china_i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-conte_3123427.jpg" --- # I wanted to make new works of very contemporary objects… ![“I wanted to make new works of very contemporary objects, which I thought was interesting because many of them are manufactured in China, but these objects are universal, they go across all languages, all cultures.” quote by Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/michael-craig-martin-9157_china_i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-conte_3123427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/michael-craig-martin-9157_china_i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-conte_3123427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/michael-craig-martin-9157_china_i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-conte_3123427.jpg) > “I wanted to make new works of very contemporary objects, which I thought was interesting because many of them are manufactured in China, but these objects are universal, they go across all languages, all cultures.” [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist aims to create contemporary works from universally recognizable objects, emphasizing cross‑cultural resonance despite their origin. **In simple terms:** Make art from everyday items that speak to all cultures. Key Takeaway Use familiar objects to bridge cultural gaps. Themes art culture globalization objecthood Mood thoughtful inspired Type artistic conceptual When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - public installations - educational workshops - cross‑cultural collaborations Key Concepts semiotics material culture universality Questions to Reflect On - How can universal symbols respect cultural specificity? - What objects best convey shared human experience? A Different Perspective The focus on universality may overlook specific cultural meanings attached to objects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ## Related quotes > [“Finally, I would like to point out that now in the age of English, choosing a language policy is not the exclusive concern of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minae-mizumura/finally-i-would-like-to-point-out-that-now-in-the-age-of-english/) [Minae Mizumura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minae-mizumura/) > [“In the history of humanity, there have been many languages, including French, that have served as universal languages: Latin, Chinese, Arabic, and more. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minae-mizumura/in-the-history-of-humanity-there-have-been-many-languages-including/) [Minae Mizumura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minae-mizumura/) > [Film is one of the three universal languages, the other two: mathematics and music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/film-is-one-of-the-three-universal-languages-the-other-two/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [“Film is one if three universal languages, the other two: mathematics and music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/film-is-one-if-three-universal-languages-the-other-two-mathematics/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [I look at the character of the exhibition and I treat it as I would a painting or an installation. When I did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-look-at-the-character-of-the-exhibition-and-i-treat-it-as-i-would-a/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [I will ignore all ideas for new works and engines of war, the invention of which has reached its limits and for whose improvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frontinus/i-will-ignore-all-ideas-for-new-works-and-engines-of-war-the/) Frontinus > [I'm just in the business of creating; creating new work inspires you to create new work. It's kind of funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walker/i-m-just-in-the-business-of-creating-creating-new-work-inspires-you/) [Karen Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walker/) > [A lot of the stuff I've done is inspired by the location. Usually my works are pretty site-specific. There are a lot of shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ragnar-kjartansson/a-lot-of-the-stuff-i-ve-done-is-inspired-by-the-location-usually-my/) [Ragnar Kjartansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ragnar-kjartansson/) > [I still do not know where the notes will come from when I accept a commission for a new work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/i-still-do-not-know-where-the-notes-will-come-from-when-i-accept-a/) [Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/) > [Because of the gospel, God is doing a new work, and he invites us to participate in this innovative work that affects the entirety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kim/because-of-the-gospel-god-is-doing-a-new-work-and-he-invites-us-to/) [David Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kim/) > [It's always really scary to release new work;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-prager/it-s-always-really-scary-to-release-new-work/) [Alex Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-prager/) > [Any genuine work of art generates new work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/any-genuine-work-of-art-generates-new-work/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [In new work, we need to see the shadow, however faint, of previous literary effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-lopate/in-new-work-we-need-to-see-the-shadow-however-faint-of-previous/) [Phillip Lopate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-lopate/) > [I always crave to see more stories about and by people of color, particularly new work by young black writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/i-always-crave-to-see-more-stories-about-and-by-people-of-color/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [Each match I approach like a new one. The work is so immense that you don't have time to sit and ponder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/each-match-i-approach-like-a-new-one-the-work-is-so-immense-that-you/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) ## More by Michael Craig-Martin > [You can't honour someone by copying them or trying to be exactly like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/you-can-t-honour-someone-by-copying-them-or-trying-to-be-exactly-like/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [There is a complete difference between art and the art market. Prices are high now for the simple reason that there are people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/there-is-a-complete-difference-between-art-and-the-art-market-prices/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [I had my exhibition of paintings first in Shanghai, and then recently in Wuhan. Wuhan particularly interested me, because I am 1/8 Chinese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-had-my-exhibition-of-paintings-first-in-shanghai-and-then-recently/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [I try to make images that have the immediate presence we take for granted in objects - a chair, a shoe, a book, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-try-to-make-images-that-have-the-immediate-presence-we-take-for/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [You can see in my paintings, I've taken away the context, I've taken away the shadows, I've taken away expression, I've taken away the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/you-can-see-in-my-paintings-i-ve-taken-away-the-context-i-ve-taken/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [When I told people that I was going to paint the big room magenta, many people thought that I was crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/when-i-told-people-that-i-was-going-to-paint-the-big-room-magenta/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [I don't like the idea of nationalism, but on the other hand, I do see that there is a difference between British art, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-nationalism-but-on-the-other-hand-i-do-see/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [I was poorer than anyone I'd ever met. But it was a great time to be a young artist - I remember it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-was-poorer-than-anyone-i-d-ever-met-but-it-was-a-great-time-to-be-a/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [You can't force yourself to be something you are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/you-can-t-force-yourself-to-be-something-you-are-not/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [ \[I\] don't want people to see it \[paintings\] as a specific intention on my part. If somebody has that interest in these objects, of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-don-t-want-people-to-see-it-paintings-as-a-specific-intention-on-my/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [I've taken away everything I could think of, and yet what remains is enough. These days many more people come to my work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-ve-taken-away-everything-i-could-think-of-and-yet-what-remains-is/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [In the period of '60s to the '90s, British art schools were small, and the number of student was small. The personal contact was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/in-the-period-of-60s-to-the-90s-british-art-schools-were-small-and/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [It is very important to develop the thing that you are naturally good at, that you are truly interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/it-is-very-important-to-develop-the-thing-that-you-are-naturally-good/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [The person you admire was true to himself. You can only truly honour him by being true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/the-person-you-admire-was-true-to-himself-you-can-only-truly-honour/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [The art world, of all worlds, has room for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/the-art-world-of-all-worlds-has-room-for-everyone/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) [Explore all 75 Michael Craig-Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) ## More China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Language is so specific to art, all the way to the past in China. Previously, people were not allowed to include various regional dialects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/language-is-so-specific-to-art-all-the-way-to-the-past-in-china/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) [Browse all 3,827 China quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to make new works of very contemporary objects, which I thought was interesting because many of them are manufactured in China, but these objects are universal, they go across all languages, all cultures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Craig-Martin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-contemporary-objects-which-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "China" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-contemporary-objects-which-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/michael-craig-martin-9157_china_i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-conte_3123427.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/michael-craig-martin-9157_china_i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-conte_3123427.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/michael-craig-martin-9157_china_i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-conte_3123427.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wanted to make new works of very contemporary objects, which I thought was interesting because many of…” — Michael Craig-Martin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Craig-Martin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wanted to make new works...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-contemporary-objects-which-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-wanted-to-make-new-works-of-very-contemporary-objects-which-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```