--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first pieces, in an art context, were…" description: "\"My first pieces, in an art context, were ways to get myself off the page and into real space. These photographic pieces were ways to, literally, throw ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/vito-acconci-13895_activity_my-first-pieces-in-an-art-context-were-w_693670.jpg" --- # My first pieces, in an art context, were ways to get… ![“My first pieces, in an art context, were ways to get myself off the page and into real space. These photographic pieces were ways to, literally, throw myself into my environment. They were photographs not of an activity, but through an activity; the activity (once I planted a camera in the…” quote by Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/vito-acconci-13895_activity_my-first-pieces-in-an-art-context-were-w_693670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/vito-acconci-13895_activity_my-first-pieces-in-an-art-context-were-w_693670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/vito-acconci-13895_activity_my-first-pieces-in-an-art-context-were-w_693670.jpg) > “My first pieces, in an art context, were ways to get myself off the page and into real space. These photographic pieces were ways to, literally, throw myself into my environment. They were photographs not of an activity, but through an activity; the activity (once I planted a camera in the instrument of that activity - once I, simply, held a camera in my hands) could produce a picture.” [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes using photography to physically engage with the environment, turning the act of creating into the artwork itself. **In simple terms:** He turned making photos into a lived experience. Key Takeaway Embed your process in the work. Themes artistic practice embodiment process Mood experimental thoughtful Type conceptual inspirational When to use this quote - studio practice - public installations - educational workshops Key Concepts performance art photography conceptual art Questions to Reflect On - How can you make your process part of the piece? - What does “throwing yourself” mean in art? A Different Perspective The method may blur line between creator and creation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [In most of my photographic pieces I have manipulated the quality of the evidence that people assign to photography, in order to subvert it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-boltanski/in-most-of-my-photographic-pieces-i-have-manipulated-the-quality-of/) [Christian Boltanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-boltanski/) > [One of the many ways of contesting level-zero, and one of the best, is to take photographs, an activity in which one should start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cort-zar/one-of-the-many-ways-of-contesting-level-zero-and-one-of-the-best-is/) [Julio Cortazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cort-zar/) > [The most beautiful pieces of art come from the ugliest situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-mineo/the-most-beautiful-pieces-of-art-come-from-the-ugliest-situations/) [Andy Mineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-mineo/) > [“People despite their struggles, flaws and faults are honestly the most beautiful creatures. We are wonderfully-broken pieces of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pyles/people-despite-their-struggles-flaws-and-faults-are-honestly-the-most/) Alexander Pyles > [When we even use the term 'specialized world,' we already have a problem! We're making art; they are making art... these worlds are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-higdon/when-we-even-use-the-term-specialized-world-we-already-have-a-problem/) [Jennifer Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-higdon/) > [God sends us pieces of art so that we may see ourselves in them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/god-sends-us-pieces-of-art-so-that-we-may-see-ourselves-in-them/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I love looking at pieces of art through the eyes of a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-love-looking-at-pieces-of-art-through-the-eyes-of-a-child/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [Art is about the context in which it is made as much as the object itself; objects take on different meanings in different contexts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-slotover/art-is-about-the-context-in-which-it-is-made-as-much-as-the-object/) [Matthew Slotover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-slotover/) > [It takes a great deal of time and thought to install work carefully. This should not always be thrown away. Most art is fragile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/it-takes-a-great-deal-of-time-and-thought-to-install-work-carefully-2/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Somewhere a portion of contemporary art has to exist as an example of what the art and its context were meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/somewhere-a-portion-of-contemporary-art-has-to-exist-as-an-example-of/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [I like the boundaryless potential you get when you make work for a context that is open to interpretation. Thinking about an art context…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-meckseper/i-like-the-boundaryless-potential-you-get-when-you-make-work-for-a/) [Josephine Meckseper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-meckseper/) > [People act like art is a white thing - or not for people of colour - when, really, so much culture and art comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-syms/people-act-like-art-is-a-white-thing-or-not-for-people-of-colour-when/) [Martine Syms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-syms/) > [I can consider not only great art, but the context in which that art has been created. I can consider the people who paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-can-consider-not-only-great-art-but-the-context-in-which-that-art/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he is being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-photographic-portrait-is-a-picture-of-someone-who-knows-he-is-being/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [While a painting, even one that meets photographic standards of resemblance, is never more than the stating of an interpretation, a photograph is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/while-a-painting-even-one-that-meets-photographic-standards-of/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) ## More by Vito Acconci > [I like Richard Serra sculptures too but I wish they had a goddamn hot dog stand inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-like-richard-serra-sculptures-too-but-i-wish-they-had-a-goddamn-hot/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [It was an incredible way to grow up, because words that you're taught - these definite things - you realize they sort of beautifully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/it-was-an-incredible-way-to-grow-up-because-words-that-you-re-taught/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Architecture is inherently a totalitarian activity. One thing we hate about it is that when you design a space, you're probably designing people's behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/architecture-is-inherently-a-totalitarian-activity-one-thing-we-hate/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [ \[Photography was necessary to\] make my place in the art-world: in order to do this, I had to make a picture, since a picture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/photography-was-necessary-to-make-my-place-in-the-art-world-in-order/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Especially once those poetry events began, because, yeah, the stuff was still on the page, but the page was starting to spill into real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/especially-once-those-poetry-events-began-because-yeah-the-stuff-was/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I became much more interested in plot when I really didn't consider myself a writer anymore. When I was in an art context and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-became-much-more-interested-in-plot-when-i-really-didn-t-consider/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [The kind of influence you want is a much deeper influence. It's like empowerment. Things are like this, but what if they were like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/the-kind-of-influence-you-want-is-a-much-deeper-influence-it-s-like/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [If something's public then it seems like the important thing is the person in that public. And the notion of rhetoric. I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/if-something-s-public-then-it-seems-like-the-important-thing-is-the/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Everybody uses labels: they give you a handle on things - an over-simplified handle, sure, but without labels, without ads, without words, the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/everybody-uses-labels-they-give-you-a-handle-on-things-an-over/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I came from the time of so-called New Criticism - the poem in itself, the writing in itself - but around that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-came-from-the-time-of-so-called-new-criticism-the-poem-in-itself/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [There's a legal term for a problem in public space: something that might draw people to an area-say, across train tracks-where they might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/there-s-a-legal-term-for-a-problem-in-public-space-something-that/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Public space can be a lot better with some private space to contradict it and vice versa. It keeps the system alive. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/public-space-can-be-a-lot-better-with-some-private-space-to/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [As a kid I learned notions of art and notions of not having any money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/as-a-kid-i-learned-notions-of-art-and-notions-of-not-having-any-money/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Maybe I had to stop photographing so that I could learn to touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/maybe-i-had-to-stop-photographing-so-that-i-could-learn-to-touch/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I always thought, I can't waste time, I have to do work. I also thought that I was slower than other people, that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-always-thought-i-can-t-waste-time-i-have-to-do-work-i-also-thought/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) [Explore all 48 Vito Acconci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first pieces, in an art context, were ways to get myself off the page and into real space. 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