I have never understood, for instance, why some people see contemporary art as divided between 'painting' and 'conceptual art', as though this represented a genuine division.

I had my exhibition of paintings first in Shanghai, and then recently in Wuhan. Wuhan particularly interested me, because I am 1/8 Chinese.

If I did not love the things that I do, how could I spend my life doing this? You have to invest what you spend your life doing with pleasure.

When I was a very young student I loved and admired the work of Sam Beckett, who is famously pessimistic, and whose writing is an extraordinary examination of emptiness. I wanted to be like Beckett. I don't have the same attitude toward the world, I'm naturally optimistic, and so of course I could never be like Beckett. You can't force yourself to become like someone you admire.

For many years I hoped to have an exhibition in China, because of my family connection.

In the period of '60s to the '90s, British art schools were small, and the number of student was small. The personal contact was great.

Usually when I go to the Summer Exhibition, I think every room is too much the same, and I loose my capacity to look at individual works.