The same sort of thing happened in my dispute with the National Trust book: Follies: A National Trust Guide, which implied that the only pleasure you can get from Folly architecture is by calling the architect mad, and by laughing at the architecture. Ian Hamilton Finlay architectarchitecturebook 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
I am always a beginner. I only try to include different parts of life; the pastoral, the tragic, et cetera. Ian Hamilton Finlay beginnerceterainclude Change image and share on social
For me concrete poetry was a particular way of using language which came out of a particular feeling, and I don't have control over whether this feeling is in me or not. Ian Hamilton Finlay concretecontrolfelt 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
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
But at the beginning it was clear to me that concrete poetry was peculiarly suited for using in public settings. This was my idea, but of course I never really much got the chance to do it. Ian Hamilton Finlay beginchanceclear 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
Well, probably I was fed up with concrete poetry. There was a lot of bad concrete poetry and besides, it was confused with visual poetry which was completely different. Ian Hamilton Finlay badcompletelyconcrete Change image and share on social
People have always found me challenging - I don't know why, when I am only being myself. I don't understand why they find me so annoying but they do. It is pity, but that is how it is. Ian Hamilton Finlay annoychallengefind Change image and share on social
