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
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
As a friendly one. I would still like to write concrete poems, but I can only do it sometimes. Ian Hamilton Finlay concretefriendlypoem Change image and share on social
No, I don't make my work in order to challenge or confuse other people's expectations - I only do what I find natural. Ian Hamilton Finlay challengeconfuseexpectation Change image and 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
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
