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.
More Quotes from Ian Hamilton Finlay:
If the work is pure then you have to think it could be understood. If it is not understood it doesn't mean that your work is not accessible. It doesn't worry me, but, of course, I would be pleased if people liked my work.Ian Hamilton Finlay
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
I am not a modern man, I am just a wee old fashioned one.
Ian Hamilton Finlay
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
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
At that time I was completely engrossed in concrete poetry, and I suppose I didn't approve of people writing poetry that was not concrete.
Ian Hamilton Finlay
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