History always constitutes the relation between a present and its past. Consequently fear of the present leads to mystification of the past

Protest and anger practically always derives from hope, and the shouting out against injustice is always in the hope of those injustices being somewhat corrected and a little more justice established.

Ever since the Greek tragedies, artists have, from time to time, asked themselves how they might influence ongoing political events.

The existence of pleasure is the first mystery. The existence of pain has prompted far more philosophical speculation. Pleasure and pain need to be considered together; they are inseparable. Yet the space filled by each is perhaps different. Pleasure, defined as a sense of gratification, is essential for nature

I wanted to write about looking at the world, so it's more about helping people, or persuading people, to see what is around us; both the marvellous and the terrible.

Propaganda requires a permanent network of communication so that it can systematically stifle reflection with emotive or utopian slogans. Its pace is usually fast.

What any true painting touches is an absence - an absence of which without the painting, we might be unaware. And that would be our loss.