elizabeth newman: is that a 'no'

In an exhibition catalogue I picked up recently, Elizabeth Newman: Is that a 'No', she is quoted as saying "I never try to consciously make work about anything. I am not the active agent in the art making..." And yet, her work is so strong conceptually. Or at least that is what I am reading and seeing. I want to understand the nuance between the birth of an idea and realising the idea. I should probably accept this is an ongoing quest...