the emperor’s new clothes
when can one stop painting? in certain aslatic painting traditions the people who are
considered to be master artists (and who can, as such perhaps stop painting) are those who
are able to reproduce a traditional sign most consummately, and with enormous
concentration. out of this reduction, and out of this struggle with traditions, they draw the
strength to create new forms.
when can one stop producing clothes? here, too, the answer might be: if one has created
“perfect clothes” through reduction, concentration, and a confrontation with tradition.