Les réponses de Bowie aux questions de Moby

1. Difficult question, but who do you think was the most influential

visual artist of the 20th century?

On other artists, it has to be a split between Warhol and Duchamp, but

only on their perception of what art is. Duchamp is more the physically

imitated whereas the Warhol cool surface philosophy is still prevalent.

It's a riot that Vermeer has recently become the toast of the viewing

public as he could actually paint. And that can always a problem. I see

Koons and Bruce Naumann catching up fast though. It could be a photo

finish. Of course there's Odd Nerdrum. He's Finnish.

2. Why don't you have a dog (or two, or three)?

I was a dog, little 'un. Though we are thinking of getting one for Alex

when she's a little older. Around 15 or so.

3. Do you plan on doing any more acting in the future? (I hope so.)

No plans whatsoever. It is not something I can say I truly enjoy. I almost

think that stage acting was more fun. It has a sense of transcience that

is nice. Like smoke.

4. Would you rather live in Iceland or Patagonia, and why?

Iceland for sure. It has the most extraordinary landscape bar none, and

very few people though they all speak English. And it's not far from Dublin.

Patagonia is full of travel writers, writing about how alone and brave they

are. But they're actually staying at the Hilton and get the bus to the

strange bits.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself physically, what would

it be?

I have dreams of being five foot eleven. That would be fantastic.

6. Have you ever kissed someone while one of your songs was playing?

And, if so, how did it make

you feel?

I've sometimes started kissing someone and then broken off to rush over

to the hi-fi to slip Laughing Gnome onto the deck but then on my return the

party has usually left the building. I have milked a cow to Heroes.

7. You have done a few cover songs over the years, what has led you

to cover the songs that you've chosen? ('Wild Is The Wind' is my

favourite)

A pathetic attempt to win some fellow musicians as friends. I know you now,

don't I? And I got to meet Nina Simone.

8. What role does painting serve in an artistic climate wherein an artist

has limitless possible avenues for creative expression? (Sorry, that

was a clumsy sentence. My syntax sucks.)

Painting as with all art serves a small and elitist dealer/museum conglomerate.

It is the new interior design of the 21st century. End of story.

9. Who is your most loathed historical figure?

Donny Osmond

10. If money were no object, what artists works would you like to own

(as many artists/works as you'd like to list)?

It would do nothing for me. I own the world. I can walk into any museum in

the world and there is my desire on the wall. What rubbish! I'd love that green

Chinese lady by Tretchikoff. My mum bought one in Boots and it was over the

fireplace for years. That and that chinese horse.

11. Any good/bad experiences with monkeys?

No, but I've got some extraordinarily funny footage of ig being savaged in

Bali by a particularly nasty temple monkey. It started with some friendly shared

eating experience and ended as all out war with ig giving as good as he got.

Man bites monkey indeed.