May 29, 2006 09:20
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
être avant tout
French to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
artist's themes
One of several themes explored by this artist, including le non-dit, être avant tout, se libérer du connu, l'amour, l'indifférence and la nostalgie.
"to be above all else" doesn't work, because it sounds like being better than everyone else. I thought about switching it around "above all else, to be" but I'm not sure.
to put being above all things
to value being more than anything
Arg!
Any suggestions are more than welcome.
"to be above all else" doesn't work, because it sounds like being better than everyone else. I thought about switching it around "above all else, to be" but I'm not sure.
to put being above all things
to value being more than anything
Arg!
Any suggestions are more than welcome.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
1 hr
Selected
the essence of being
Gosh, I hope I never have to write down why and what I paint ;-)
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I am overwhelmed by all the wonderful response! This is what the artist liked best. Thanks Sue! I also liked Jennifer's "just being", but the artist felt that "etre avant tout" went one step beyong "just being", putting being before all else. "
+3
4 mins
just being
A related idea that came to mind was "human being, not human doing" - but it's overkill. When I listen to meditation tapes, they often say "just be."
Hope it helps. I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions. :)
Jennifer Gal
Hope it helps. I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions. :)
Jennifer Gal
Note from asker:
| Thanks Jennifer, yes, brainstorming is what I need :-) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
MDI-IDM
49 mins
|
| agree |
David Vaughn
: or "just existing" but I think I prefer "being"
3 hrs
|
| agree |
rossignol
6 hrs
|
4 mins
Anna Quail
France
France
Native in English
France
Once a translator...
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, UK, British)
Works in: French to English, English
to exist, first and foremost
To get the ball rolling. I'm sure there are hundreds of ways of saying this :-)
+1
6 mins
Richard George Elliott
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Art, music, literature
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
pure existence
existence pure and simple
unmitigated existence
unmitigated existence
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Dr Sue Levy (X)
: that's nice :-)
1 hr
|
+1
1 hr
being as essence
Some more word play...something along these lines might fit the artistic context:
being as essence
essence of being (this might be a stretch on the actual meaning)
existence as essence
or maybe something like:
the essential being
being as essence
essence of being (this might be a stretch on the actual meaning)
existence as essence
or maybe something like:
the essential being
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Dr Sue Levy (X)
: we popped in at the same time :-)
2 mins
|
1 hr
Peter Enright
Australia
Australia
Native in English
Specializes in field
Australia
Also medical doctor. EcoFriendly office
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English, French
being before doing/being instead of doing/being over doing
This is a way of living that numerous people ascribe to - it is an existentialist concept - and could be what the artist is referring to.
Example sentence:
I am a person first and foremost, not a teacher. Teaching is what I do - I believe in being before doing.
3 hrs
Paul Hirsh
France
France
Native in English
Specializes in field
France
The Human Translator
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Russian to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
the primariness of being
the unspoken thought, the primariness of being, delving into the unknown ...
6 hrs
nnaemeka Odimegwu
Nigeria
Nigeria
Native in English
Nigeria
original translations
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French
to be the first choice
i'm so sorry if the word escapes me but the artist wants to win all the grammies. that's the word. to be above all. to be first place. the prima donna. escapes me.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-05-29 16:20:10 GMT)
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to be the essential in the field. you got me laughing here.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-05-29 16:20:10 GMT)
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to be the essential in the field. you got me laughing here.
1 day 3 hrs
Christopher Crockett
Native in English
Specializes in field
M.A., Ph.D. Historian/Art Historian
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
46
[he expresses] ...the unsaid (non-literal) and, above all**, frees himself from the conventional....
It's impossible to determine the correct form without having the complete sentence, but that's the general idea.
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