Maya Lin Quotes

A collection of quotes by Maya Lin.

Maya Lin is an American artist and architect known for her significant contributions to art and cultural landscapes. She was born on October 5, 1959, in Athens, Ohio. Lin came to prominence at a young age when, as a college student at Yale University, her design was selected as the winning entry in the highly acclaimed Vietnam Veterans Memorial competition in 1981.

Her minimalist and thought-provoking design, which consisted of a long, black granite wall engraved with the names of the fallen soldiers, received both praise and criticism. However, it would eventually become one of the most iconic and emotionally powerful memorials in the United States.

Lin's success with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial propelled her career forward and she went on to establish her own architectural studio, Maya Lin Studio, in 1989. Over the years, she has worked on numerous architectural projects, sculptures, and installations, often exploring themes of environmentalism, history, and the human relationship with nature.

In addition to her architectural pursuits, Maya Lin is a dedicated environmental activist and has been involved in various initiatives aimed at raising awareness about environmental issues. Her work often reflects a deep connection to nature, emphasizing sustainability and ecological preservation.

Maya Lin's artistic vision and innovative approach continue to shape the fields of art and architecture, making her a highly influential figure in contemporary art and design.

The definition of a modern approach to war is the acknowledg

The definition of a modern approach to war is the acknowledgement of individual lives lost.

It's funny, as you live through something you're not aware o

It's funny, as you live through something you're not aware of it.

How we are using up our home, how we are living and pollutin

How we are using up our home, how we are living and polluting the planet is frightening. It was evident when I was a child. It's more evident now.

$Math, it's a puzzle to me. I love figuring out puzzles.$

Math, it's a puzzle to me. I love figuring out puzzles.

Love

My dad was dean of fine arts at the university. I was castin

My dad was dean of fine arts at the university. I was casting bronzes in the school foundry. I was using the university as a playground.

Dad

Art is very tricky because it's what you do for yourself. It

Art is very tricky because it's what you do for yourself. It's much harder for me to make those works than the monuments or the architecture.

Architecture

When I was building the Vietnam Memorial, I never once asked

When I was building the Vietnam Memorial, I never once asked the veterans what it was like in the war, because from my point of view, you don't pry into other people's business.

Business

Some of your teachers are actually closer in age to you than

Some of your teachers are actually closer in age to you than you think.

Age

I probably spent the first 20 years of my life wanting to be

I probably spent the first 20 years of my life wanting to be as American as possible. Through my 20s, and into my 30s, I began to become aware of how so much of my art and architecture has a decidedly Eastern character.

Architecture

In art or architecture your project is only done when you sa

In art or architecture your project is only done when you say it's done. If you want to rip it apart at the eleventh hour and start all over again, you never finish. I was one of those crazy creatures.

Architecture

$I loved logic, math, computer programming. I loved systems a$

I loved logic, math, computer programming. I loved systems and logic approaches. And so I just figured architecture is this perfect combination.

Architecture

I really enjoyed hanging out with some of the teachers. This

I really enjoyed hanging out with some of the teachers. This one chemistry teacher, she liked hanging out. I liked making explosives. We would stay after school and blow things up.

Teacher

I deliberately did not read anything about the Vietnam War b

I deliberately did not read anything about the Vietnam War because I felt the politics of the war eclipsed what happened to the veterans. The politics were irrelevant to what this memorial was.

Politics

When I was very little, we would get letters from China, in

When I was very little, we would get letters from China, in Chinese, and they' be censored. We were a very insular little family.

Family

You should be having more fun in high school, exploring thin

You should be having more fun in high school, exploring things because you want to explore them and learning because you love learning-not worrying about competition.

Learning

The process I go through in the art and the architecture, I

The process I go through in the art and the architecture, I actually want it to be almost childlike. Sometimes I think it's magical.

Architecture

When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down un

When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down until you get to the end of the row.

Smile

I started studying what the nature of a monument is and what

I started studying what the nature of a monument is and what a monument should be. And for the World War III memorial I designed a futile, almost terrifying passage that ends nowhere.

War

To me, the American Dream is being able to follow your own p

To me, the American Dream is being able to follow your own personal calling. To be able to do what you want to do is incredible freedom.

Freedom

Even though I build buildings and I pursue my architecture,

Even though I build buildings and I pursue my architecture, I pursue it as an artist. I deliberately keep a tiny studio. I don't want to be an architectural firm. I want to remain an artist.

Architecture