A "controversial" painting of Charles Saatchi has caused something of a ruckus down in Mayfair.
The first Stuckist exhibition to take place in Mayfair is to be shut down by the gallery. After banning a painting of Charles Saatchi from its window display, Artspace Gallery on Maddox Street have decided to close down the exhibition on Saturday, a week earlier than planned.
The painting, by Stuckist Paul Harvey, is the centrepiece of the movement's first Mayfair exhibition, entitled Stuckist Clowns Doing Their Dirty Work, and depicts Saatchi with a halo made from a Dairylea wrapper, a sheep at his feet and borders made of lemons.
According to Stuckism co-founder Charles Thomson, the work has been deemed by Vivian Choi, manager of Artspace Gallery, as “too controversial for the area”. Meanwhile Mark D's portrait of Lady Gaga surrounded by penises has so far escaped condemnation.
Philippa Adams, Senior Director of the Saatchi Gallery, told Thomson and Choi, "Charles Saatchi is presently away, but I can confirm he would not have any problem with Paul Harvey’s painting being displayed."
Thomson also informs us that Adams copied her reply to Choi at the Artspace Gallery, who then emailed the Stuckist curator, Kyla Bullows:
"I am furious to receive these emails from artists. I clearly mentioned that you are the curtor [sic] of the exhibition and you have total control of it. I do not even know who this person is and why she sent this mail to the gallery not to you."
And apparently Choi continued, "I cannot face any controversial emails or complains [sic] for gallery's reputation to our clients." Thomson also tells us that "she has also demanded the removal of 36 paintings from the show on the grounds that there are too many."
Given that this exhibition of figurative paintings has been described as “too controversial for the area”, it might be worth pointing out that just the other side of New Bond Street, Scream Gallery is exhibiting works by the Chapman Brothers, notorious for blow-up sex dolls, Hitler, and defacing Goyas, whilst nearby Simon Lee Gallery is happy to exhibit work by S&M champion Robert Morris.
Stuckist Clowns Doing Their Dirty Work is currently on show at Artspace Galleries, until when though, we're not quite sure.
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