"Sensation"al Art Up in Flames

A fire in an east London warehouse has destroyed "millions of pounds" worth of art by important "YBA's" (Young British Artists; a group centered around Damien Hirst and other East End stars made [in]famous worldwide via the Sensation exhibition that stirred controversy on both sides of the Atlantic).

A good portion of the work lost was in the collection of Charles Saatchi, who single-handedly* revitalized the market for contemporary British art, and while he is reportedly "devastated" by the loss, the rest of the art world is just beginning to come to terms with what this means.

As this work has always been seen as controversial, there will undoubtedly be those who feel no great loss over this tragedy, but here's a list of the artists whose work is now gone Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Sarah Lucas, Gary Hume (one of my favorites), Patrick Caulfield, and Craigie Horsfield .

These are huge names in contemporary art and the impact will be significant. Having talked with artists who lost their studios (and the work within them) to fires, I know it's a devastating, wholly demoralizing experience for them. I've seen them wander through the ashes, completely besides themselves, wondering how they'll find the path back to what they had been working on, mourning the years of struggle gone up in flames. (It's not too hyperbolic to say, for some, the experience is similar to losing a child.) Once the work is purchased (especially by a high-profile collector), the assumption is that it's in good hands and will be dependably taken good care of.

There are greater immediate tragedies in the world right now, clearly. But as people's names and histories rarely have a shelf-life even close to that of great works of art (which represent us all to the future, whether we like them or not), this is a harsh blow to the legacy we'll leave.

*OK, so White Cube's Jay Joplin would disagree, but Mr. Joplin insisted on calling me "Edwin" and insulted my writer friend, so he'll have to fight his way into the history books without my help, thank you.

Comments

[Moe Lane]

I hope that nothing that you found individually significant or meaningful was destroyed in the fire, Edward.

[Edward]

Thanks Moe...I saw a slideshow of destroyed work (on BBC.com, I think). There were a few gems, but nothing I personally treasured.