"The best things in life happen to you when you're alone." I love this.

How humble and bold at the same time.

"I paint with my back to the world." Brava. But in a way, she didn't paint; she made portals. To what? Serenity, bliss. A bona fide mystic, a lovely human being.

Thank God for Agnes Martin. How great she was!

It’s remarkable how humble she is…one of the greatest painters of the 20th century, and she credits external inspiration.

So much wisdom in her voice. I wish I could write songs the way she painted.

She possesed rare commodities in the art world - insight, honesty and emotional depth.

@roundtriptoheaven1848

5 жыл бұрын

Interesting that you describe her qualities as "commodities" - a term better used for, say, Jeff Koons.

So many of her sentences are so loaded with truth. They really strike deep in me. Thanks for the video. I would love to have an afternoon with her talking about art, oof...

Still listening to her.

I really liked her description of her state as "a vacant mind."

It's incredible so many great artists were never really discovered until they were well into their 40's...today, so much pressure and emphasis is put on "making it" before you turn 21...art is something that often takes time to mature. Yes there are many James Dean type artists who flash brightly and burn out quickly, but that isnt the full spectrum, nor should it be expected as such.

"The worst thing you can think of when you're painting is yourself."

@9avedon

5 жыл бұрын

Think of Collectivism instead of yourself.

@evanjones5664

5 жыл бұрын

@Mark Thompson I agree. Any time I feel bad thoughts creepin in while I'm working, I think of that line, and they go away.

Totally agree with her on music. Very perceptive woman. Glad to have ran across this. Thanks to Brain Pickings.

Brilliant. It takes evolution of the soul to understand what she accomplished.

Heart warming.

I feel like more of a person after watching this interview, my life was changed by her art, its so skillful

Agnes Martin's later paintings are beautiful to me, evoking an emotional response like I get from listening to some musical performances. I am not a student of art history or art appreciation, but like anyone else I came to her work with ideas about what art is or should be. The balance, harmony, colors (words fail) I see in her work change the way I feel in a positive way. It cannot be explained. It just has to be seen.

The ending blew my mind.

@xkdavid1451

10 жыл бұрын

I agree..."Empty your mind so when something comes in you can see it" she had such clarity of thought...perhaps it is what she said at the beginning and what we can aspire to..."the best things in life happen when you are old...it is when all the revelations come."

@rebeccathomas4334

7 жыл бұрын

She says ALONE not OLD

"if you don't take credit, you don't take the blame!!"

@martinhasson4942

3 жыл бұрын

Mmmmmmmmmmm🤔

This is the most content old woman I have ever seen. She has figured out what the world is and is fine with it.

What a wonderful look into how a great painter thinks. So straightforward and unassuming.

My God, an enlightened one she was. Just putting Divine Playfulness on the canvas. A hollow and empty mind, how beautiful that is!

She sounds like one of her paintings: zen, calm, tranquil, majestuous...

amazing women...

@martinhasson4942

3 жыл бұрын

Why?

complete babe

Ok i think this woman is amazing. every word she said was beautiful.

wonderful AGNES !

I can't bring myself to mimic her creative process. This is incredibly tough even though the premise sounds simple enough.

@paintpaper9

7 жыл бұрын

mindoermatta why would you mimic something that is not you? It is her...

I love this great spirit. What a beautiful woman.

thank you Agnes!

When I first looked at her work and artistic talent, I to didn't exactly see the meaning behind it. But after viewing this interview she emphasizes her point of view, explaining her insight in how she express's her artistic talent and what life consist's of to her. "Don't over think, just do what you feel. In my opinion that is art."

I knew I loved her from the first time I saw her work in the PAM.

She's got a great perspective.

As an artist, one of my greatest Joys is to hear another artist describe their Love of their Art. It's been my pleasure. Thanks!

she is speaking from her point of view about her approach and her thoughts on art . . . the individuals making rude and hateful comments are showing us theirs . . . negative and hateful.

Agnes Martin is so enlightened; in that having an empty mind, one then sees more clearly; against the poverty of 'theory'...

I love it.

I like her humility and appreciation of the concrete and raw. These, and her attraction to being a vessel and having an empty mind, repeatedly make me smile.

What an inspiration! Thank you Google :)

"I am an empty mind so that something comes into it you can see it."

Thank you mr Google for sharing this. As an artist I definitely agree that the artist can take no credit for their work. Inspiration is just that. It comes from no where and is given to the world.

"I don't have any ideas myself. I have a vacant mind"- Agnes Martin

real art takes courage

Apparently some of you need to really learn the definition of what "art' is. Which it is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. Let the lady Rest In Piece.

@erebollar87

10 жыл бұрын

"let the lady rest in piece" :-) ... yes ... in a PIECE of art :P

I enjoy your videos. Thanks very much for sharing. I agree that music can be the highest form of art!

Beautiful interview, thank you so, so much for doing a posting. Agnes is inspiring on both personal and artistic levels. This makes me hunger for more non thinking time outside meditation.

One of my favorite painters, although one wouldn't think so looking at what I do. Funny thing about this interview; if you took various artist from various generation throughout history, either some or most would at least agree with her somewhat. My point is that all artists from the earliest of times deal with the same stuff we do today. Agnes Martin not only realized this, but did it.

Agnes keeps a clear mind as I do myself. This is the first time I've heard anyone say this. As an artist myself I see the importance of clearing your mind. Check my Facebook/photos.

@eayllon1

10 жыл бұрын

***** I'm a believer and I agree with her. Having a mind full of thought and worry makes you go out of touch with your body and spirit. I see clearing your mind as a great thing to do. Having a clear mind brings peace which allows you to be more authentic with God when you pray. And I see being a believer as irrelevant when creating art because art is just a means of expressing emotion.

@BobbyTucker

10 жыл бұрын

Edson Ayllon I agree with you Mr. Ayllon, the more negative comments only escalate the individual's status. Peace. :)

Her paintings are totally compelling! 7:30 intellectuals = priceless!

Love her .

interesting a lot of good stuff in there...words of wisdom...thankyou agnes

Great video.

Thank you, Agnes. :) Painting from the void! so important.

In my opinion she painted spectacularly remedial pieces ... but then again, I'm sitting in my mom's basement rent-free judging the world. She wins!

That is a BOLD cinematic decision to tighten up the voom on her face at 7:08

As a painter and spirit I found a GREAT connection with Agnes, to the point that I was joyfully amazed. I saw the documentary program where she shared her philosophies and paintings........just last night and she has already had a profound effect on me. Every thing she said I could fully relate to.......... I say this from the heart. Amazing.

"give up all the theories" "'empty the mind"

she is one staunch woman, set in her ways. her paintings are wonderful.

Abstract artist Agnes Martin says music is the highest form of art. I agree, music is completely abstract. Art is not intellectual at all. Art is emotional. The Inspiration tells me what to do.

@projectilequestion

9 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more.

@martinhasson4942

3 жыл бұрын

She's not a famous MUSICIAN 🤔🤔🤔

The Best

Awsome inteview. A woman after my own heart. I believe art is an animal thing but that is just me thinking. Thank you chucksmithNYC

I've been thinking about it all day with Google's images, and such....We need artists like this: The point of the art was: It's just a drawing of a Grid on a piece of paper. That's it. And the reason we need to see that is to realize other things usually are not as big as they seem. The internet isn't all that: It's just a grid of information: There's more to life. Same with alot of things in society we are afraid of: Like corporations, and Government, and authority, and etc. etc. They are just people. It's Just a Grid made of lines people: It is what it is: That's the point of all the art she made. JUST LINES...Like all art really.

I agree with her. People think way too much when creating art, and that's okay if it's you're thing, but some artists just try too damn hard. Everyone creates and looks at art differently, if you don't appreciate her art there are tons of other artists, no need to bash. There is a very delicate sensibility to her style, and just like she said she has to have a clear mind when painting, I think it is necessary to have a clear mind when looking at her art or else the weight of all your preconceived notions are going to blind you. Personally, I find the repetition and simplicity very therapeutic, just like minimalist music.

Love love love

best thx

CHUCK SMITH: OBRIGADA POR SEU TRABALHO QUE VALORIZA PESSOAS COMO AGNES MARTIN!!!!! VOCÊ TEM UMA MANEIRA DIFERENCIADA DE TRAZER À LUZ ARTISTAS E PESSOAS IMPORTANTES PARA TODOS NÓS, DESSE PLANETA DE DEUS!!!!!!!!!! OBRIGADA!!!!!! ADRIANA CYRINO DE MELLO RISAU RIBEIRÃO PRETO SÃO PAULO BRASIL SALAM

strong!!!!

She is great. I would love to have lunch with her. If she lived in the East I bet she would have many disciples.

@leningaibor9555

10 жыл бұрын

***** You're projecting the same ignorance and hate that you see in the world. Keep an open mind and your toxic opinions to yourself...

Nice interview, if you want to see more of Agnes Martin you might also want to check out a new prize-winning documentary about her ("Agnes Martin: Between the Lines"), trailer available here on KZread

🙌🙌🙌🙌 It all.makes sense

i completely get the whole not thinking thing, very similar to meditation where u remove all thoughts from the mind and then something very interesting happens, you get this inflow of energy and imagery thats mind blowing.... however her art reminds me of old's folks homes, not thought free but dead thoughts

@earthgal2000

10 жыл бұрын

Or of one that has been brainwashed. I kind of felt the same way while listening to her. She seems like a Beautiful person though.

@martinhasson4942

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah! I know a lot of beautiful people At the OLD FOLKS HOME IN THE VALLEY 🚵🏌️⛹️🏊🕵️🕵️👳👦👰👰👴👵👩👴👸👮 this is like...Nothing is the New Something

Lovely woman.

That was a badass point that she made

very nice. paint with your back to the world. now that is no bullshit.

They look like linens to me. I love the detail in texture. Could be wearable art. Would love to wrap myself in that blue.

❤️

I'm just realising ( in lockdown) THIS HAPPENED 6 YEARS AGO ( Now we're all mad like Aggy)

I'd like to see her film Gabriel but I have no idea how to find it. Her paintings and her writings are a powerful inspiration.

fulfil your potential

I’m a painter and would find it difficult to write an artists statement ..can art be explained by an artist to a viewer?Ive sometimes cried quietly when listening to a piece of music but never when looking at a painting ….too many painters want to talk about art ..nothing can be said

she thinks of nothing and disbelieves everything the scientists say and yet she is the most intelligent woman i know of. beautiful interview.

Happiest moment: "when they go out the door". Who, the painting or the interviewers? Always thought her statement had a double meaning, as she liked to be alone when she worked.

Okay, also, for everyone out there: to define art limits it, but I can't help myself: art is GENERALLY defined as something made from a medium/media, that requires human skill, and communicates a mood or idea. If I draw a smiley face on a piece of paper, then that is art. It is made from line on paper, my cat could never do it (HUMAN, not technical, skill), and it communicates happiness.

the right thing for the right reason

I can't wait to be able to say 7:12. That takes serious balls to say at my age, granted any one would even bother interviewing me about anything.

I got two things from this. "There are so many people that don't know what they want" Her opening line. Then she said she was lucky. Exactly. So I know what I want out of life. I want a National Medal of the Arts for painting a pot holder with me eyes half closed and I want to be paid handsomely for it.

This is crudely mercenary, abjectly authority-pleading art. What makes her blank canvas "art" is the fact that someone is willing to pay for it. What makes her blank canvas "art" is the fact that those with power to define art are willing to call it that. Other than the money, other than acceptance by those who have authority, there is no difference between her blank canvas and someone else's blank canvas.

Emotion and art music is a art of emotion I love that Hey sometime when you don't like please don't make me read your craps change the channel it is so easy

Like many others, Google brought me here. A lot of these comments are cruel and unreasonable; it's audacious to pronounce such harsh judgement on something you've probably looked at for a maximum of twenty seconds on Google. People seem to expect to be "entertained" or "wowed" by any media; they want to be diverted by movies, to feel emotion out of music, and to be "amazed" by art (presumably via technical skill). And that's fine. But some artists don't make work just to satisfy the public this way; maybe they want to communicate a particular idea they've had, or perhaps, like Martin, they only want to fulfill an inspiration as purely as possible, and are satisfied by just that.

@Mike Anthony---A TRUE artist, one that is willing to expose his or her creative soul for others to see or hear because they MUST, does not have a need to criticize other artists(they are way too busy creating and learning), and you seem to have a need (by way of posting your same opinion several times, as if you require validation for it) to criticize SIMPLY because her art has no place within YOUR critical vision of what art is / isn't.. If her art inspires you NOT to create art in a similar fashion, or to appreciate the art of others MORE(including your own), then she HAS actually influenced you, and no criticism is required. Chew on that concept and someday you'll poop out the real stuff.

If this is art then the tiles in my bathroom, the colour on my ceiling, and the shingles on my roof are a masterpiece.

@littleflyer4

10 жыл бұрын

If they bring you any joy,they are.

She talks just like an Agnes would - I know, I am Agnes too ;)

I agree about the intellectuals...that's just a bad guess. They do not leave room to the spiritual world.

'Born to do it.' Is there anything else that can be said?

I believe it's true we should rid our mind of bad thoughts. But to not allow any good thing to come in your mind leaves you with nothing, which is what she has expressed in her paintings. But imagine what she could have painted if she had allowed the Holy Spirit into her life and filled her mind with love, joy and peace. And if she followed the scripture Phillipians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

who put that advertisement at the end. It s just rude

Really!

Wonderful, But what does she says at 4:43 ? because what i hear now is that " you want it to puke to other people" I'm pretty sure that's not what she says haha Appeal to other people ? Thanks to anyone that can answer me

@vangoventures6513

7 жыл бұрын

Yes......."you want it to appeal to other people....". I recent saw many of her works at SF Moma last week....very impressive, meticulous art.

She says relevant things, but after a minute or two I got distracted more and more by her lipsmacking every few seconds. I know it's a minor thing, but once you hear it, i for one can't block this sound from hearing. I think I'll look for a transcript of this interview instead because she ís fascinating

@ladhavnenleve

10 жыл бұрын

Read the book: "Paintings, Writings, Rememrances of Arne Glimcher. If you like Agnes Martins paintings you will love her after reading it :))

@foobird58

10 жыл бұрын

She was 85 when this was recorded. show some respect for her age. how will you be functioning at 85?

@martinhasson4942

3 жыл бұрын

No! She is a minor thing!

@martinhasson4942

3 жыл бұрын

@@foobird58 PRETTY GOOD 😷

NO WAGES are The NEW WAGES 🤔☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️