Sarah Lucas’ provocative sculpture and comments of several lorry drivers, say a lot about the state of the British Art.

When successful artist is one who can make headlines in the media by creating something totally controversial, and not necessarily a good work of art.



When Jean Tinguely exhibited a urinal pot in the Paris exhibition, he used it only as point of provocation, not really a work of art. During last 2 decades whole visual arts scene in Britain is taken over by the ‘headlines works’ and it has created national heroes out of provocative works; when good contemplative works of art hardly get a mention.

As a matter of fact, ‘visual arts’ is such an area, where 3-4 people can decide the whole direction of art. You need one buyer, one art critic and a gallery director to decide who the most valuable artist is. Whereas in other areas such as music, literature or theatre, a creator needs to appeal of thousands of consumers, or even hundreds of thousands who would put there money.


When our next generation will look at the contribution made by Damian Hurst or Tracey Emin, it will feel having been let down when they will find no substance under the headline works of art.