Quotes from Maurizio Cattelan

I produce so little that the works have to be editioned. Otherwise, I don't survive. Also, editioning is relevant for communication. If you make three new works, it means that nine objects are available. Three people talking about your work is fine, but nine makes a difference.

I like to produce work for specific places, and it is difficult to do repeat shows in the same space.

I am fascinated by the idea of employing beautiful images as a device to convey something extremely disturbing in an apparently harmless way.

My aim is to be as open and as incomprehensible as possible. There has to be a perfect balance between open and shut.

I would describe myself as a tallish, shy, middle-aged man who equally loves his work and his freedom. And a good liar!

I find Instagram interesting to the extent that new royal families are born and die there, such as The Kardashians of L.A.

Stuffed animals are sad and scary; they have humorous and tragic qualities.

I was jealous of colleagues when I should have been happy for them. I decided to save my energy. If you think they are great works, you should buy them.

When I was very young, I had to start to working to help my family, while my friends were studying. Since then, I have felt the urgency to escape from every dependency situation.

If you are a plumber, there is an objective way to establish whether you put together a great piping system or not. Art is a bit more slippery than that.

I never tried to make money - just enough to be able to eat.

Some do design in order to try to solve others' problems, while others make art in order to give others his problems.

Rules are simply obstacles to be jumped, like in a horse race: higher and higher every time.

Art fairs are a lot like professional proms - you make contacts, have a lot to look at, and in some cases, you make friends forever. I think that for artists, they can be a bit controversial: they stimulate curiosity, but at the same time, you're always trying to not have your work hung on a wall.

I work more with my stomach than my brain.

What's the point of our life? Everything seems absurd until we die, and then it makes sense.

I am not an artist.

From my point of view, humour and irony include tragedy; they're two sides of the same coin.

I have become an employee of art.

Laughter is a Trojan horse to enter into direct contact with the unconscious, strike the imagination, and trigger visceral reactions.

I don't design. I don't paint. I absolutely never touch my works.