BOOKS
Charles Saatchi is notoriously press shy, Q. You’ve been successful at discovering
refusing all requests to be interviewed new artistic talent. But are there not
and shunning his own publicity events. always great artists who go undiscovered?
In a bid, perhaps, to fend off future A. By and large talent is in such short
requests, Saatchi has complied a book of supply, mediocrity can be taken for
his responses to more than 200 brilliance rather more than genius can go
questions, which have been put to him undiscovered
over the last few years by journalists,
critics and members of the public. Q. Who are your living heroes?
Covering everything from A. Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird.
pornography to art, religion to Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront. Cary
advertising My Name is Charles Saatchi Grant in North by Northwest. Burt
and I am an Artoholic provides a frank Lancaster in Sweet Smell of Success. Gary
and often hilarious insight in to the art Cooper in High Noon. They live forever, if
mogul’s views on life at large. you grew up in the local Rialto.
Leading international advertisers,
artists, dealers, media, galleries, directors Q. You famously created the slogan
and politicians as well as musicians, film ‘Labour isn’t Working’. Were you a Tory?
makers and coffee are all discussed, as Are you a Tory?
well as more private matters such as his A. I once also threw myself into the
family life and day-to-day routine. Health Department’s Anti-Smoking
Questions in the book include: What is campaign, visited emphysema wards,
the most honest thing you can say about studied pictures of cancerous lungs, and
yourself?, How do you rate political came up with the grisliest copy I could –
advertising today? and Do you think you puffing away happily as I wrote. How
have messed up anyone’s life by flogging sweet of you to think that advertising
off all their work? Most of the questions copy is written from the heart.
and their answers will be published for
the first time.
My Name is Charles Saatchi and I Am An
Artoholic by Charles Saatchi, £5.95,
Phaidon Press Limited © 2009 Phaidon
Press Limited
www.phaidon.com
Extracts from the new book:
Q. How do you choose what to buy? Is it
about what you like, or will you buy things
you don’t like as an investment?
A. The more you like art, the more art
you like. So I find it easy to buy lots of it,
and seeing art as an investment would
take away all the fun.
15
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