I TOLD SOLE I HAD SEEN Sax’s latest pictures in New York and that they had struck me as interesting. She said:
“I got an invitation to spend the weekend at Damian Oxfordshire’s place in the country, and I knew Sax was going to be there too.”
“But he never leaves London.”
“You know he has a soft spot for Damian. But I didn’t go because I didn’t feel like seeing him.”
“Why do you look down on him so much? He’s a great artist!”
“That’s what you think.”
“It’s not just me, the market thinks so too.”
“I prefer other artists. I prefer Hopper.”
“But Hopper is dead.”
“So what, Leonardo, Poussin, and Caravaggio are dead too!”
“Okay, let’s not argue about it.”
Sole is like that. She is not an easy person to understand and she is moody. It’s very hard to be accepted by her. Since childhood she has always tried to suppress suffering and worries. She loves her family, but lives far from us because we have too strong an effect on her emotions. She is a woman who needs to be helped to live, but with respect. You have to leave her breathing room, encouraging her and listening to her when she wants it. Besides, with grown up children you must learn to keep a certain distance, and not suffer when they don’t see things the way you do. It’s not easy, but if I am obsessed by Sax and Sole can’t stand him, it’s better not to press the point, simply change the subject.