Hockney denies Hirst criticism

Hockney denies Hirst criticism NEWS

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Artist David Hockney denies criticising Damien Hirst for his use of assistants to complete works.

Hockney is said to have attacked Hirst in a Radio Times interview, calling his practise of using assistants to help him with his art 'a little insulting to craftsmen'.

The Royal Academy of Arts has issued a statement on Hockney's behalf stating the artist 'has not made any comments which imply criticism of another artist's working practices'.

Andrew Marr of Radio Times said that Hockney was 'critical of artists with no craft who delegate the making'.

Marr went on to state that when he asked Hockney if a poster for his exhibition, which read 'All the works here were made by the artist himself, personally', was a dig at Hirst, Hockney nodded in reply.

The Royal Academy, which is staging a major Hockney exhibition this month, said Hockney's opinion was taken out of context and was not a direct criticism towards Hirst.

'The Royal Academy wishes to make it clear that, contrary to some recent press reports, David Hockney has not made any comments which imply criticism of another artist's working practices, nor are there any words to this effect on the poster promoting his forthcoming exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts,' the statement said.

The line 'All the works here were made by the artist himself, personally' was on Hockney's gallery wall but not on a poster for the exhibition, said the Royal Academy spokeswoman.

The new Hockney exhibition for the Royal Academy includes a series of new landscape paintings of East Yorkshire where the British artist was born. The exhibition opens 21 January.