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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…” quote by Vik Muniz
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“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."”

Vik Muniz

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.

Key Takeaway

Embrace embodied perception in creative work.

Themes

art perception embodiment philosophy

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive

Type

theoretical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • studio practice
  • art education
  • creative brainstorming
  • mindful observation

Key Concepts

embodied cognition phenomenology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does bodily perception influence your creative decisions?
  • Can feeling and reason coexist in art?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on feeling may neglect analytical rigor.

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