- Venue
- White Cube
- Location
I was very excited to see Hirst's glitter ball of a skull. I'd planned my visit to Hoxton Square White Cube and booked my ticket. However, the first disappointment was that it was not made clear that the media hyped skull was actually at Mason's Yard. Probably my fault for not checking.
I entered the gallery expecting to see some great new work. That was not the case. The vitrine pieces were standard and Hirst's constant referencing of Christianity and the nativity becomes dull. Speared and crucified animal carcases aren't shocking or unique to us now, so what are left with? A science lab, but not a science lab as an art installation. Just specimens on display.
And the aforementioned works were the highlight! The rest of the show was like that of an average degree students final year exhibition. Apart from the awful curation, cramming far too many of his new cancerous paintings along the walls, the execution was sloppy. Glass and razor blades stuck on a pseudo-abstract background of blood like cancer swirls. Not affecting in any way.
And as for upstairs, some of the worst work I've ever seen. Paintings of scenes from the scene of the birth of Hirst's son. Nothing special about the way they were painted, ignoring the whole stigma and history of painting. And they were clearly painted (by somebody else) from photographs. So why not just show the photos? I'll tell you why – because painting has more value than photography in this context and Hirst is a greedy boy.
Mr Hirst I used to look up to you. I'm sure the skull is very nice – go to Mason's Yard to see that spectacle and avoid Hoxton Square!
