Everything has a reason, including the selection of the photos, which was not arbitrary but appropriate to the period, its highs and lows and my sense of them.
Good art in general aspires to something, as a good painting aspires to something, almost spiritual or holy.
We've lost these qualities, these abilities to do something by hand. Some illustrators have it still, but it's just not art. We have photography. We have cameras and computers that do it better and faster.
I do see myself as the heir to a vast, great, rich culture of painting - of art in general - which we have lost, but which places obligations on us.
Now there are no priests or philosophers left, artists are the most important people in the world.
Art is the highest form of hope.