Design Beyond Craft book cover

New Kindle book by Alexander Shalymenov

Design Beyond Craft

Design is not decoration. It is judgment. This book explores the human decisions behind good design, from first principles to the age of AI.

View on Amazon

Available now as a Kindle Edition on Amazon.

I am obsessed with beauty. I want everything to be perfect, and of course it isn't. And that's a tough place to be because you're never satisfied.

- Robert Mapplethorpe

Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe's quote highlights his fixation on beauty, which he believes is unattainable. He's driven by a desire for perfection, but acknowledges that it's an unrealistic goal. This obsession with beauty is a recurring theme in his work, which often features stunning, yet sometimes unsettling, images of the human form. Mapplethorpe's fixation on beauty is a reflection of his own struggles with identity and his desire to capture the essence of his subjects.

Mapplethorpe's quote underscores the tension between his pursuit of beauty and the imperfections of reality. His fixation on beauty is both a source of inspiration and a source of frustration, as he's constantly striving for something that's ultimately unattainable. This quote offers a glimpse into the mind of an artist who is deeply invested in his craft and his own sense of self.

Mapplethorpe's quote is a reflection of the artistic and cultural landscape of the 1980s, a time when the boundaries between high and low art were being pushed and the concept of beauty was being redefined. His work, which often featured explicit and provocative imagery, challenged traditional notions of beauty and sparked controversy.

Robert Mapplethorpe was a photographer and artist known for his provocative and often controversial work. Born in 1946, Mapplethorpe was a key figure in the New York City art scene of the 1970s and 1980s. His work often explored themes of beauty, identity, and mortality, and he was known for his technical skill and attention to detail.

Mapplethorpe's work was often criticized for its explicit content and perceived obscenity. His photographs were the subject of several lawsuits and were banned in some countries. Despite the controversy, Mapplethorpe's work continues to be celebrated for its technical skill and its ability to challenge and provoke.

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Design Beyond Craft book cover

New Kindle book by Alexander Shalymenov

Design Beyond Craft

Design is not decoration. It is judgment. This book explores the human decisions behind good design, from first principles to the age of AI.

View on Amazon

Available now as a Kindle Edition on Amazon.

Quote by Robert Mapplethorpe