"The future is already here - it's just not evenly distributed."
Doug Aitken's quote emphasizes that advances in technology, culture, and society do exist, but they are not equitably available or experienced globally. The implication is a call to action, urging us to strive for a more inclusive and balanced world where the benefits of progress are accessible to all, rather than being concentrated in specific regions, communities, or social classes. It's a reminder that while we may witness incredible innovations and changes, it is crucial to address disparities and work towards a future where everyone can reap its advantages.
"I try to make my work responsive to its environment, so that each project lives and breathes within its own context."
Doug Aitken's quote emphasizes a flexible and adaptable approach to artistic creation. He aims to ensure his work not only exists but also thrives in the specific context it is presented, making it an integral part of its environment rather than a mere transplant. This approach allows his art to resonate more deeply with its audience, as it reflects the unique characteristics and spirit of each location where it is showcased.
"I see my role as an artist as a conduit for ideas, as someone who can help translate the zeitgeist of our time into a form that people can understand and engage with."
Doug Aitken, in this quote, views himself as a bridge between abstract concepts and human comprehension. He believes his role as an artist is to interpret the spirit or mood of the era (zeitgeist) into a tangible form that the public can engage with and understand. Essentially, he sees himself as a channel through which complex ideas find expression in a way that is accessible and relatable to people.
"Art is not about objects; it's about relationships."
This quote suggests that art is less about physical creations or objects, and more about the connections, interactions, and experiences it fosters between people, ideas, emotions, and even the world around us. In essence, art serves as a medium for building and exploring relationships, be they interpersonal, intellectual, emotional, or cultural.
"The world we live in is constantly changing, so why should art be static?"
Doug Aitken's statement suggests a contemporary perspective on art, implying that since the world around us is dynamic, our artistic expressions should also evolve and adapt to the ever-changing times. This view challenges traditional ideas of art as static or unchanging, encouraging instead the creation of artworks that engage with and reflect the fluidity of modern life. Such art can foster a deeper understanding of our rapidly changing world, promoting creativity, innovation, and dialogue in contemporary society.
The 20th century is a period defined by cultural and artistic movements. However, the 21st century creative-scape that we occupy now doesn't really have movements in the same way. Instead it's made up of diverse individuals working across various platforms simultaneously; art, architecture, film, music and literature.
- Doug Aitken
I think about museums often. There are things that I want museums to do that they often don't. For me, I like it when there's a system within the museum that can continuously change - whether it's a museum that is nomadic or one that's designed so the building can shape-shift. I like restless spaces, and I want to be engaged.
- Doug Aitken
My office has two buildings that function like the right and left sides of the brain. There's a room where everything is being edited for an upcoming project, but you can pull out of that into a tranquil space to work in a different, more solitary medium. It's an architectural unfolding of the process instead of just one chaotic structure.
- Doug Aitken
I have always just made things. I don't see what I make as being defined by a medium or aesthetic. It probably comes more from a fundamental restlessness, an attempt to create tools for questioning or understanding, and I have always been interested in using a wide spectrum of mediums to do this.
- Doug Aitken
I'm really pleased to share the 'Station to Station' film. It has a very unorthodox structure; it's made up of separate one-minute films. So you watch this piece that is like time moving. Everything is democratised, whether it's a minute of Patti Smith or a single landscape with a drone, it's this amazing modern kaleidoscope.
- Doug Aitken
Communication is paramount, and what medium or what format you utilize should be a non-issue. In some respects, that has created a barrier for new media, especially web new media, because often times maybe the media itself comes before the concept, before the ideas, and ends up navigating or dictating the outcome.
- Doug Aitken
'Station to Station' came out of a sense of urgency - a sense that culture, be it art, film or architecture, has become so compartmentalised. For this project, we wanted to break that and create a language that is more nomadic and less materialistic and really empowering for the creators and the audience.
- Doug Aitken
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