11 May, 2015, Art Institute of Chicago, IL, USA
I am a pop artist.
So my medium is public opinion. And the world is my canvas.
I'm sorry is something you can use a lot. it gives you an opportunity to give your opinion, apologise for it, and give your opinion again. People say, 'you should not be sorry for your opinions'.
George Bush has some very cool self portraits., I didn't know he was an artist.
I felt my nerves a bit, and I don't feel that feeling a lot.
The nerves of humility and modesty when being honoured. A humanisation, a reality of being recognised. And all I thought, as I sit here, shaking a bit, is I need to get rid of that feeling. I need to not be nervous.
This honour is going to make your lives easier. Two reasons. You don't have top defend me as much. And I'm going to make all of our lives easier.
And it's these Floyd Mayweather belts that are needed to prove what I've been saying my entire life..
Whether it's the co-sign of Paul McCartney grabbing me and saying, 'It's okay he doesn't bite white people.' Or the New York Times cover. Or the Time 'Most Influential' cover. And now a doctorate at the Art Institute of Chicago. When I was giving a lecture at Oxford I brought up this school because when I went on that mission to create in other spaces, a parallel film, performance, it would have been easier if I could have said I have a degree at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Thank you.