Christian Boltanski Quotes

Art-making is not about telling the truth but making the truth felt

We all die twice - once when we actually die and once when no one on earth recognizes our photograph.

The photo replaces the memory. When someone dies, after a while you can't visualize them anymore, you only remember them through their pictures.

Photography is used to give evidence, and the evidence is always deceiving.

I never take photographs myself. I don’t feel like a photographer, more like a recycler

The fact that you were born means that there are no other children born because of you – you’ve killed them in a way.

I was lucky to be born during the time of minimalism. I think I can be colder because of this. In form I speak with minimalism but my feeling is sentimental - I am a sentimental minimalist.

The science about life is very optimistic. Every second, four people in the world die, and six are born. This is optimistic.

There are very few times in creation in your life. One time is when you become an adult, one time is when your parents die, and the other time is when you are very old.

You are what you are because your parents made love at that exact moment, and if they made love one second after you would be different.

I think that all human activity is stupid. Artistic activity is also stupid, but you can see it more clearly.