By KIRA AGASS
VERY little of British art’s current battle against austerity can be seen at the Tate modern as a retrospective of Damien Hirst hits the Southbank this month.
The most famous of what became known as the Young British Artists, who were riding the populist wave at the turn of the century, is no stranger to controversy and this time is no different – his £36,800 plastic skull (available in the gift shop, no less) was headline news.
A walk round the his impressive catalogue (though conspicuous through their absence, his much derided drawings) will let you make your mind
up as to whether his pieces including the notorious dissected cow and calf are the work of a genius of contemporary culture or a bad joke
played on all of us.
Decide for yourself.
Damien Hirst Tate Modern: Exhibition, 4 April â 9 September 2012, £14, concessions available