Damien Hirst

“In an artwork you're always looking for artistic decisions, so an ashtray is perfect. An ashtray has got life and death.”

“People don't like contemporary art, but all art starts life as contemporary - I can't really see a difference.”

“It's amazing what you can do with an E in A-Level art, a twisted imagination and a chainsaw.”

“Great art - or good art - is when you look at it, experience it and it stays in your mind. I don't think conceptual art and traditional art are all that different.”

“Since I was a child, death is definitely something that I think about every day. But I think that everybody does. You try and avoid it, but it's such a big thing that you can't.”