Damien Hirst

I think art should be a bit like a mirror, reflecting our own mortality back at us.

I'm not trying to be controversial. I'm just trying to be honest about what I see in the world.

I think the best art is the art that makes you feel something, even if you don't understand it.

I'm interested in the idea of belief, and how we choose to believe in things, even when there's no evidence.

I like to make art that's a bit like a game, something that you can play with, that has different layers of meaning.

I think art should be a bit like a drug, something that transports you to another place.

I'm not trying to shock people for the sake of it. I'm trying to make them confront things they might not want to confront.

I think the most important thing in art is to be true to yourself, even if it means being unpopular.

I'm interested in the idea of death as a celebration of life, rather than something to be feared.

I like to make art that's a bit like a joke, something that makes you laugh, but also makes you think about deep things.

I think art should be a bit like a religion, something that gives you hope, even in the face of despair.

I'm not trying to tell people what to think. I'm trying to make them think for themselves.

I think the best art is the art that makes you feel alive, that makes you appreciate the preciousness of life.

I'm interested in the idea of faith, and how we put our faith in things, even when they're ultimately meaningless.

I like to make art that's a bit like a puzzle, something that you have to figure out for yourself.

I think art should be a bit like a confession, something that reveals something about the artist, and about ourselves.

I'm not afraid to fail. I think failure is an important part of the creative process.

I think the most important thing in art is to be honest, even if it's brutally honest.

I'm interested in the idea of beauty, and how we find beauty in unexpected places, even in death.

I like to make art that's a bit like a scream, something that grabs your attention and doesn't let go.