Damien Hurst has just launched with a great fanfare his latest artistic project, entitled Cherry Blossom. From the brief glimpse we have been allowed to see on TV I note several interesting coincidences. First, David Hockney has recently completed his own project following the arrival of spring in Normandy. Then, a great deal was made in the TV report of the fact that Hurst has actually painted this series. I can’t help but ask whether this might be as a consequence of his being stung by Hockney’s taunt earlier that his own work had been done “by hand”, instead of by a team of assistants or contractors.David I wonder whether Hurst is alluding fairly directly to the fact that Hockney’s recent work has been largely confined to the iPad (i.e. not exactly “by hand”.) Finally, it can’t be a coincidence that Hurst chose to launch his new project in France, pretty well under Hockney’s nose.
Things are getting pretty nasty out there on the elite art front! Meanwhile the rest of us just try to get on with it, doing our best.