THE THING

‘Metaphorically, wearing an eye mask bids farewell to this desire to know, instead, one must rely on something unknown’

‘The idea of wearing them while painting is a really great image’

The Polish artist discusses the spirit behind Eileen Agar’s Cleopatra which sits atop a pile of National Geographic magazines in her studio

‘Maybe speaking about it will free me, and maybe this means I can get rid of it’

The first pin I got was ‘Keep the Faith Baby’ – those words were probably the first I read on my own, long before I understood them

The Throbbing Gristle member and multimedia artist discusses a beloved instrument which has become a lifelong companion

‘It was the end of glam rock; everyone was moving on’: the co-founder of the Pet Shop Boys reflects on a Bryan Ferry poster he saw in 1974

The Creative Director of Moschino discusses a much-loved beret designed by Judy Blame

Eight influential artists, including Jarvis Cocker, Neil Tennant and Cosey Fanni Tutti, select a single object of special significance