Michael Landy: 'My biggest setback? Destroying all my worldly belongings'

To coincide with this year's Evening Standard Art Prize, we've asked leading artists for their advice to up-and-coming creatives. One artist will win £10,000 for their artwork - but be quick, as entries close this Sunday (September 30). For the final Q&A before entries close, conceptual artist Michael Landy gives his tips.

How did you begin as an artist?

I had my drawing of a clown accepted on BBC1’s Take Hart in 1979. They did a close-up of it, I was so proud. They never returned the artworks, they always destroyed them, which they explained. I guess that’s where my interest in destruction comes from.

Your breakthrough moment?

Walking into an exhibition of the Swiss kinetic artist Jean Tinguely in 1982 at the Tate — watching his machines made from junk beat themselves up while audiences were laughing. I came away with a catalogue, a poster and a Meta-Matic drawing that one of his drawing machines had made for me.

What was your biggest setback?

Destroying all my worldly belongings when I did Break Down [his Artangel project in 2001].

Best advice you ever received?

Kindness is for losers: it ended in 1979 when Mrs Thatcher came into power.

Something you wish someone had told you?

That you have to value yourself.

What do you think is the biggest setback to artists today? What’s your life hack?

Their imaginations — stupid! If your Staffordshire Bull terrier gets in a fight with another dog and they “lock-on” to the other dog, if you stick your finger up a Staffs’ bum they’ll let go.

If you could own one piece of art what would it be?

Erased de Kooning Drawing, 1953, by Robert Rauschenberg.

Michael Landy: Scaled-Down is at Thomas Dane Gallery, SW1 (thomasdanegallery.com), Oct 2 to Nov 17