I have always been aware that you have to get people listening before you can change their minds. Any artist’s big fear is being ignored, so if you get debate, that’s great.
I can’t understand why most people believe in medicine and don’t believe in art, without questioning either.
Painting is so poetic, while sculpture is more logical and scientific and makes you worry about gravity.
I believe all painting and art should be uplifting for the viewer.
I think as an artist you have to reinvent yourself every day.
I sometimes feel that I have nothing to say and I want to communicate this.
Making art, good art, is always a struggle. It can make you happy when you pull it off. There’s no better feeling. It’s beauteous. But it’s always about hard work and inspiration and sweat and good ideas.
I was taught to confront things you can’t avoid. Death is one of those things. To live in a society where you’re trying not to look at it is stupid because looking at death throws us back into life with more vigour and energy. The fact that flowers don’t last for ever makes them beautiful.
I realised that you couldn’t use the tools of yesterday to communicate today’s world. Basically, that was the big light that went on in my head.
Being best is a false goal, you have to measure success on your own terms.
So smoking is the perfect way to commit suicide without actually dying. I smoke because it’s bad, it’s really simple.
Here’s one from me: ‘You have to be aware that everyone else is thinking far too hard about themselves to be thinking about you, whoever you are.’ If you want it, you can have it. Once you know that, you can be free.