HELMUT LANG, 52, is an Austrian fashion designer turned artist. His first solo exhibition is now showing in Hanover. He lives in New York City and Long Island

I didn’t grow up with my parents – my grandparents

were both my parents and grandparents. My childhood allowed me not to feel entitled to everything but to just let it happen.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in the country. Nature seems to function exactly as it’s supposed to, for better or worse. Trying to have a natural relationship with everything now informs all I do.

I never settled on minimalism – that was attributed to me. I’m completely against categorisation. It doesn’t allow anyone to see or feel what they might be able to experience. It takes away the emotions.

The most important lesson I learnt from fashion was to take it in small doses. Fashion shouldn’t be about absoluteness, otherwise it would be a church. People should have complete freedom about how they present themselves.

I don’t separate work and life, which is a blessing. I don’t have to divide my time into something I like more and something I like less.

I don’t think competitively; I just always want to do the best I can. With that, you naturally become competitive – you don’t have a choice.

I need time to be alone. For me, a waste of time is the most productive time.

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