13 Quotes & Sayings By Oscar Niemeyer

Oscar de la Renta, born in 1935 in the Dominican Republic, is a Dominican-American fashion designer, who is known for his luxurious and feminine designs. He was named after Oscar Wilde, the writer. His father died when he was nine years old. His mother, who had been working as a maid, raised him and his sister at great sacrifice to support her two sons Read more

She sent De la Renta to the prestigious Academia Santa Lúzia in Rio de Janeiro at age 15. At age 16 he entered the School of Architecture at Escola Nacional Gama Filho and graduated with honors at age 19. He later designed furniture and worked for several architects before establishing his own firm in 1975.

De la Renta has received numerous awards including the LVMH Prize, the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award for Fashion Excellence, the César Award for Best Costume Design, and one honorary degree from Pratt Institute. He has also won the Italian National Award for Ecclesiastical Art, the French City of Nice Award for Artisan Craftsman of the Year, and was named a Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by UNESCO's International Council on Monuments and Sites.

1
Humanity needs dreams to be able to survive the miseries of daily existence, even if only for an instant. Oscar Niemeyer
2
There is no reason to design buildings that are more basic and rectilinear, because with concrete you can cover almost any space. Oscar Niemeyer
3
Curves are the essence of my work because they are the essence of Brazil, pure and simple. Oscar Niemeyer
4
It was the drawing that led me to architecture, the search for light and astonishing forms. Oscar Niemeyer
5
It is not with architecture that one can disseminate any political ideology. Oscar Niemeyer
6
I search for surprise in my architecture. A work of art should cause the emotion of newness. Oscar Niemeyer
7
Architecture is invention. Oscar Niemeyer
8
Architecture will always express the technical and social progress of the country in which it is carried out. If we wish to give it the human content that it lacks, we must participate in the political struggle. Oscar Niemeyer
9
Architecture is my work, and I've spent my whole life at a drawing board, but life is more important than architecture. What matters is to improve human beings. Oscar Niemeyer
10
For me beauty is valued more than anything - the beauty that is manifest in a curved line or in an act of creativity. Oscar Niemeyer
11
Form follows beauty. Oscar Niemeyer
12
My work is not about 'form follows function, ' but 'form follows beauty' or, even better, 'form follows feminine.' Oscar Niemeyer