In an artwork you're always looking for artistic decisions, so an ashtray is perfect. An ashtray has got life and death.

I always try to make everyone mellow down, make sure everybody's happy. The people I have employed have always kind of stayed with us. A lot of people who come to work for you are artists in their own right. And they want to work for you because they want to pick something up.

I can't understand why most people believe in medicine and don't believe in art, without questioning either.

Being best is a false goal, you have to measure success on your own terms.

I've never learned to drive because I get lots of ideas when I'm a passenger in a car. I love to get in a car with a driver and just think and work things out.

Never let money get in the way of an idea

You've got to be oblivious to other people, the push and pull of other people's opinions, the way other people measure success. It's then that you realize you are 100 percent who you are and you have to use that who-you-are 100 percent in order to create great things.