20th century Quote by Vik Muniz
“Only in the 20th century, artists started taking the study of perception in a more humane way. They were thinking about the eye as being an instrument, the whole body as being a visual instrument. That sort of gave way a little bit with Cartesian - the "Cogito ergo sum" argument. It's not, "I think therefore I exist." It's, "I feel therefore I think therefore I exist."”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Art and Perception, 2015
The quote notes a shift in artistic practice toward viewing perception as embodied, moving beyond pure rationalism to feeling‑based cognition.
In simple terms: Artists began seeing perception as bodily, not just logical.
Embrace embodied perception in creative work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- studio practice
- art education
- creative brainstorming
- mindful observation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does bodily perception influence your creative decisions?
- Can feeling and reason coexist in art?
Overemphasis on feeling may neglect analytical rigor.