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From: Vastly Overpanted Category: Art Date: 27 October 2009 Time: 02:12 PM Review: The essential spark in any of our cultural forms of expression are exemplified by persistent conversations, if a matter is decided or remains uncontested it is almost certainly dead and this is why point should essentially always oppose counter-point ad infinitum. The Jonathan Jones article addresses some of the criteria about Hirst's exhibition at the Wallace, how it is a contradiction for Mr Jones, you could say that the article embodies some of the zietgiest experienced by many of the massed art watcher but Hirst has never signed a pledge or attended some ritual wherein he promised to be a certain type of artist. There is definitely a tangible reaction to Hirst's attempt to renew himself, a display which features the prodigal savant returning to the source for replenishment, his little comments refer to his experience at art college - Goldsmiths, a veritable warren of philosophical deception, how he's always been committed to painting, how his tutors told him that "if it works - you don't need to justify it". I do not rate the article that much, it's a game of tennis between Hirst and Jones but Hirst wins by not turning up to play because you can reference Fragonard and Rembrandt all you like, you can accuse some-one of not having certain abilities , you can compare like with like but the thing about Hirst is that he has an uncanny ability to stay one step ahead and he seems to be fueled by everyone else willing him to fall. I would admit a sincere conversion if Hirst had shown real balls and put work into the Free Art Fair (perhaps he did) He reckons the spin painting were often given away(?) The overblown prices, the shallow subject matter and the absurd statements and kiss-up, kick-down celebrity indulgence non of it really matters because he usually gets back to his neutral position. He's beginning to take on a Charlie Chaplin persona, a bit like the contemporary version of Bob Dylan. Something is happening and you don't know what it is....do you...Mr Jones?