My dad was an engineer and so I had this picture of science and technology and pursuits of the mind as being more impressive than artistic pursuits, which I saw a as kind of frivolous.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
My dad was always such a frustrated artist. He always worked very hard to support his family, doing a bunch of ridiculous jobs. He wanted to be a painter, but then he also wrote science-fiction novels in his spare time.
My engineer dad is where my technical acumen comes from. I remember him taking me to the factories to see how what works. Often he used to open up his motorbike to fix things and I saw how the wheels worked. His car used to be open for dissection very regularly. All this taught me and inspired me to look beyond what I could see on the skin.
I was always fascinated by engineering. Maybe it was an attempt maybe to get my father's respect or interest, or maybe it was just a genetic love of technology, but I was always trying to build things.
You see, my ambition was not to confound the engineering world but simply to create a beautiful piece of art.
So much of my aesthetic was formed by my dad.
My dad is very down to earth, and I view him as a creative genius, and I am very proud of that.
Some of modern engineering is necessary to good art. But I think of myself is a cultural artist.
I was brought up on art. My father thought I had a great hand at art and sent me to art school. But he did not want me to become a photographer.
My exposure to visual art all my life was intensive.
I'm quite into the idea of engineering being beautiful.