Richard Deacon, 66: ‘I wouldn’t like to feel it’d be a failure to stop’

The master of abstract sculpture has learned to ride the ups and downs of his own career – but reserves the right to retire Related: The seven ages of an artist I was starting out as an artist in the 70s when the art market barely existed for contemporary art. There was virtually no commercial activity. The idea of a career didn’t really come into it. I’m not particularly practical, I’m slightly clumsy and inept, but tools and materials and the relationship of action to t