Any artist will tell you he's really only interested in the stuff he's doing now. He will, always. It's true, and it should be like that. - David Hockney

If we are to change our world view, images have to change. The artist now has a very important job to do. He's not a little peripheral figure entertaining rich people, he's really needed.

All art is contemporary, if it's alive. And if it's not alive, what's the point of it?

I've started painting much more freely, and faster. I think it's working in the theatre that did it. You know what the Glyndebourne scene-painters said about my The Magic Flute? They said they had to wear sunglasses to paint it.