From On My Way

The Germ of a New Plastic Work

     A small fragment of one of my plastic works presenting a curve
or a contrast that moves me, is often the germ of a new work.  I
intensify the curve or the contrast, and this determines new forms.
Among the new forms two grow with special intensity.  I let these two
continue to grow until the original forms have become secondary and
almost expressionless.  Finally I suppress one of the secondary, ex-
pressionless forms so that the others become more apparent.  One work
often requires months, years.  I work until enough of my life has
flowed into its body.  Each of these bodies has a spiritual content,
but only on completion of the work do I interpret this content and
give it a name.  In this way my works have received names such as:
Black Cloud-Arrow and White Points, Plant Escutcheon, Arabic Eight,
Plant Pendulum at Rest, Leaves Arranged According to the Law of Chance.

BACK TO 1948

BACK TO ARP MAIN PAGE