"...It had been very challenging at times, I'm sure I would not be the only artist (laughs) to- to say that. Sometimes it's really felt like I've been swimming against the tide, you know, so to have that endorsement. I remember when I was interviewed immediately after it was announced that the sculpture had been selected for the acquisition prize. I think there were 79 sculptures in the exhibition, so for my piece to be chosen was quite a big thing. And when they announced the prize I had to go up into the podium and talk. I had a sort of acceptance speech, which was quite comical. And one of the first things that came to mind, I just said, you know, "It's been a- a long journey to get to this point," and then, you know, immediately thought in more ways than one. Not only was I on the other side of the world, but, you know, just to- just to have not given up...." - Ivan Black's interview with Richard Holdman

"...I do look at geometry, and I look at geometry in scientific textbooks and sacred geometry and things, but in quite an abstract way. I don't generally look at it and think, "Right. I'm going to make a sculpture based on that pattern." It's more like absorbing the kind of inspiration. Maybe the same is true with nature. My first kinetic mechanism came about when I saw something that I thought was interesting and something that I'd made, and then decided to extrapolate on that to make the next piece..." - Ivan Black