--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like poor materials. I couldn't see…" description: "\"I like poor materials. I couldn't see myself making a bronze sculpture - it's not me. I like neon, because it's moving constantly and like drawing. The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/tracey-emin-6953_dad_i-like-poor-materials-i-couldn-t-see-mys_985864.jpg" --- # I like poor materials. I couldn't see myself making a… ![“I like poor materials. I couldn't see myself making a bronze sculpture - it's not me. I like neon, because it's moving constantly and like drawing. The chemicals going through the neon turns me on really - it's sexy. I like fabrics, but one of the main things with objects is that I really have to…” quote by Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/tracey-emin-6953_dad_i-like-poor-materials-i-couldn-t-see-mys_985864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/tracey-emin-6953_dad_i-like-poor-materials-i-couldn-t-see-mys_985864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/tracey-emin-6953_dad_i-like-poor-materials-i-couldn-t-see-mys_985864.jpg) > “I like poor materials. I couldn't see myself making a bronze sculpture - it's not me. I like neon, because it's moving constantly and like drawing. The chemicals going through the neon turns me on really - it's sexy. I like fabrics, but one of the main things with objects is that I really have to love them before I can use them. I have to have the object around me a long time. The little chairs I used in my last White Cube show are ones that my dad bought for me. A sort of a psychometry with objects and things. It's like the pieces I've made are my things.” [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## 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 prefers materials that resonate personally, emphasizing emotional connection and the object's history over traditional mediums. **In simple terms:** Artists choose media that feel personal. Key Takeaway Select materials that inspire you. Themes creativity materiality personal connection Mood introspective inspired Type conceptual expressive When to use this quote - gallery installations - public art - personal studios Key Concepts psychology of art object relations sensory perception Questions to Reflect On - How does material choice affect your expression? - What does an object's history add to your work? A Different Perspective Some may view non‑traditional media as less valuable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Sexy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexy/) ## Related quotes > [The impulse for me to want to make sculpture is because I want to make statements, really, on a purely emotional level. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ganson/the-impulse-for-me-to-want-to-make-sculpture-is-because-i-want-to/) [Arthur Ganson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ganson/) > [In trying to become 'objective,' Western culture made 'objects' of things and people when it distanced itself from them, thereby losing 'touch' with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/in-trying-to-become-objective-western-culture-made-objects-of-things/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [“That becomes clear if you try to define the objects and things which supervene in each class. Odd and even, straight and curved, number,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/that-becomes-clear-if-you-try-to-define-the-objects-and-things-which/) [aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [ Object-oriented programming aficionados think that everything is an object… this \[isn't\] so. There are things that are objects. Things that have state and change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stepanov/object-oriented-programming-aficionados-think-that-everything-is-an/) [Alexander Stepanov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stepanov/) > [Sculpture is like farming. If you just keep at it, you can get quite a lot done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-asawa/sculpture-is-like-farming-if-you-just-keep-at-it-you-can-get-quite-a/) [Ruth Asawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-asawa/) > [“Every person has a secret inventory of "things". I call them objects of attachment - things that refuse to be forgotten. Perhaps it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-warner/every-person-has-a-secret-inventory-of-things-i-call-them-objects-of/) Jesse Warner > [I used to think that the great thing about sculpture was that, like Stonehenge, it was something that stood against time in an adamantine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-used-to-think-that-the-great-thing-about-sculpture-was-that-like/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [I did photography, painting, and drawing, but I prefer sculpture. I like it because it's very physical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-did-photography-painting-and-drawing-but-i-prefer-sculpture-i-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's possible, in a poem or short story, to write about commonplace things and objects using commonplace but precise language, and to endow those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/it-s-possible-in-a-poem-or-short-story-to-write-about-commonplace/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I hate album covers where people are just smiling so big. It's like a neon sign that says PLEASE COME BUY ME.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-hate-album-covers-where-people-are-just-smiling-so-big-it-s-like-a/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [Baby, when they look up at the sky We'll be shooting stars just passing by You'll be coming home with me tonight We'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mala/baby-when-they-look-up-at-the-sky-we-ll-be-shooting-stars-just-2/) Mala > [My scars were reflecting the mist in your headlights I looked like a neon zebra, shaking rain off her stripes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/my-scars-were-reflecting-the-mist-in-your-headlights-i-looked-like-a/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [“My thoughts are so clear that I wouldn't be surprised if he could see them blazing above my head like a neon sign outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/my-thoughts-are-so-clear-that-i-wouldn-t-be-surprised-if-he-could-see/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [My hair is such a statement that it's like a neon sign asking for trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/my-hair-is-such-a-statement-that-it-s-like-a-neon-sign-asking-for/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [I guess personally I really like "Take on Me" by Aha. I think it just defines the 80s and how insane it was and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-peters/i-guess-personally-i-really-like-take-on-me-by-aha-i-think-it-just/) [Evan Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-peters/) ## More by Tracey Emin > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I know people went to laugh at my bed and to jeer at it. Still, at least they actually went to see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-know-people-went-to-laugh-at-my-bed-and-to-jeer-at-it-still-at/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [People don't remember. Revenge is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/people-don-t-remember-revenge-is-sweet/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I'm a terrible cook, but if I could cook, I would see that in art as well, it's how much creative energy you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-m-a-terrible-cook-but-if-i-could-cook-i-would-see-that-in-art-as/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [For me, being an artist with a high profile is a good thing for art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/for-me-being-an-artist-with-a-high-profile-is-a-good-thing-for-art/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When you don't have children you have to define and make your own purpose, and make your own reason for being here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-you-don-t-have-children-you-have-to-define-and-make-your-own/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I really love animals. My cat is my little soul mate. He's not just a cat, he's my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-really-love-animals-my-cat-is-my-little-soul-mate-he-s-not-just-a/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [The reason why I'm popular as an artist in this country is because it suits the psyche of the nation at this time. Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/the-reason-why-i-m-popular-as-an-artist-in-this-country-is-because-it/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Most people don't do something seminal. I've done it twice: with my tent and my bed. Picasso did it with Cubism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/most-people-don-t-do-something-seminal-i-ve-done-it-twice-with-my/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I found that life has to be edited to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-found-that-life-has-to-be-edited-to-continue/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE PAST HEAD ON.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-the-past-head-on/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“I don’t believe in love, but I believe in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-don-t-believe-in-love-but-i-believe-in-you/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When it comes to words I have a uniqueness that I find almost impossible in art – and it's my words that actually make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-it-comes-to-words-i-have-a-uniqueness-that-i-find-almost/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“He pulled my skirt up. I began to worry. Everyone knew he had broken in girls before and I didn't want it to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/he-pulled-my-skirt-up-i-began-to-worry-everyone-knew-he-had-broken-in/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) [Explore all 96 Tracey Emin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like poor materials. I couldn't see myself making a bronze sculpture - it's not me. I like neon, because it's moving constantly and like drawing. The chemicals going through the neon turns me on really - it's sexy. 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