The engine of ancient society was religion but the engine of contemporary society, as I see it, is advertising.

Practical! On Wednesday afternoons I could be practically anything. What's up?

In the fairy tale the painting represents the here and now. The book is actually divided into five sections, through which the key character, the muse, leads us.

The original item looked like a little hand cart with the figure of a man mounted on a platform between the wheels. The man's outstretched arm always pointed south.

If we listen human instinct actually tells us what we need, but advertising makes us want things we don't need and things we can't have.

I think most artists find it difficult to part with their work but it's the parting that keeps us alive and keeps us working. In the case of the chariot, although it's been sold I actually still have it, just in another form.

The dog, the rabbit and the hoop all feature in the painting, and take the place of the orrery.