I came to these mediums through having the garden, and of course, people who have designed gardens have always worked in collaboration, and never made their own inscriptions. Ian Hamilton Finlay collaborationdesigngarden Change image and share on social
Little Sparta is a garden in the traditional sense. It is perhaps not like other modern gardens, but I think that other times would have had no difficulty with it. Ian Hamilton Finlay difficultygardenmodern Change image and share on social
However, I don't feel the world is looking over my shoulder when I am working - I never think about this at all. What I think about is trying to make my work pure, and if it is pure then it can be accessible. It is quite straight forward really. Ian Hamilton Finlay accessiblefeelforward share on social
I am not a modern man, I am just a wee old fashioned one. Ian Hamilton Finlay fashionmanmodern Change image and share on social
I have often said that just as the French revolution, for instance, understood itself through antiquity, I think our time can be understood through the French revolution. It is quite a natural process to use other times to understand your own time. Ian Hamilton Finlay antiquityfrenchinstance share on social
But you have to understand that I consider myself a very modest artist, or whatever, and not of importance really at all - it is quite embarrassing to me to be asked my opinion about things. I am only a wee Scottish poet on the outside of everything. Ian Hamilton Finlay artistaskembarrass share on social
What you compose with is neither here nor there, you compose with words, or you compose with stone plants and trees, or you compose with events; the Sheriff's officer, or whatever. Ian Hamilton Finlay composeeventofficer Change image and share on social
My position is that since the non-secular status of my garden is not recognised by the law; by the world of the public, then the garden can only be private. So, I closed the garden to the public. Ian Hamilton Finlay closegardenlaw Change image and share on social