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What would be a good way to express the following: "I like to see the beauty in ugly things"? (This is related to drawings, paintings and photography.)

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Is it not a context where "searching for inner beauty" would fit? – Eldroß Jan 13 '11 at 11:58
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I think that your phrase captures it quite well. Beauty and ugliness balanced against each other...is there a more subtle idea you're trying to convey? – Chris B. Behrens Jan 13 '11 at 14:44
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I esteem to discern the pulchritude in repugnant entities. Moar smart words! (sorry...) – Joey Adams Jan 13 '11 at 20:40
Though this is an old question, I think that it's off-topic as the OP is simply asking for a more evocative way to express something that he already knows how to say. This is perhaps marginally on-topic for writers.se, but not here. – JSBձոգչ Jul 13 '11 at 13:30
@JSBᾶngs: English is not my mother tongue. Therefore I don't know how this subjective phrase appears to a native speaker. If english.stackexchange is not good for this, what is it good for then? – Philip Aug 21 '11 at 13:24
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closed as not constructive by JSBձոգչ, MrHen, kiamlaluno, waiwai933♦ Jul 15 '11 at 4:01

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3 Answers

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  • I find beauty in the ugly.
  • I find beauty in the mundane. (not the same as ugly)
  • I see beauty in ugliness.
  • To me, ugly is beautiful.
  • Through my eyes, the ugly becomes beautiful.
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This is a good answer because it shows that the original sentence can be interpreted in very different ways. – Charles Sep 19 '11 at 0:16
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I like to explore the beauty within the ugliness.

I like to capture the beauty within the ugliness.

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I prefer to see the beauty in that which is grotesque

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