From Art to Ashes

Millions of pounds worth of British art went up in flames last week. A blaze broke out in an East London warehouse destroying over 100 seminal pieces of Britart many of which were owned by celebrity patron, Charles Saatchi. The fire originated in an adjacent unit which was burgled shortly before the blaze began in the early hours of Monday 24 May 2004.

Significant losses include Tracey Emin’s notorious Everyone I have Ever Slept with tent, 16 of Damien Hirst’s spin paintings, the Chapman Brother’s Hell, 50 works by Patrick Heron belonging to his family and 22 of Gillian Ayers paintings. Only two works were salvaged including Hirst’s infamous Charity statue inspired by the old Spastic Society collection boxes. Saatchi was said to be devastated at the extent of the devastation.

Police are still investigating the cause of the inferno but indicators point to the blaze starting at the site of the burgled unit which contained watches, mobile phones and computers.

Momart is widely regarded as the best fine art shipper in the world and their clients include the Tate galleries, the National Gallery and Buckingham Palace. Eugene Boyle, Momart’s Managing Director, expressed the companies deep sadness at the huge loss, but highlighted the fact that their insurers were completely satisfied that they taken every possible step to insure the safety of the works of art in their possession.

Artists and collectors have expressed disquiet at the conditions in which Momart kept the works. Gillian Ayers and author Shirley Conran are among those taking legal action. Ayers claims that Momart had shown her round another warehouse adjoining its offices in Hackney and remains resolute that she had no idea her artworks were being kept in Leyton.

Reactions to the loss of such a culturally significant collection have been varied. Critics have been quick to cast it as the symbolic end of the Britart movement. Evening Standard art critic Brian Sewell commented: "this incident has the makings of an appalling tragedy for the history of contemporary art".

But it will take more than this to dampen the spirit that produced some of the most iconic pieces of British art. The Chapman Brothers displayed a resilient attitude over the loss of their Hell piece which sold to Saatchi for £500,000 three years ago. Dinos Chapman said: "We will just make it again. It's only art."

Defiant Cleric Preaches at Mosque

Radical Muslim leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi today defied his Government critics by preaching at a London mosque. The controversial cleric addressed worshippers at the start of his week long visit to the UK, ignoring calls for him to be deported. The spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, he is banned from the US for his links to terror groups. He was scheduled to speak at the Finsbury Park mosque, but the visit was seen as too provocative. A spokesman for Dr al-Qaradawi said he was confused by the uproar as he has visited the UK peacefully many times in the last twenty five years.

Money's too Tight to Kention

Mayor Ken Livingstone has signed up one of the world's greatest architects as an advisor on a £1 salary. Richard Rogers, whose past projects include the Millennium Dome, has agreed to continue to as head of City Hall’s architecture and urbanism unit. Originally appointed as a paid consultant in 2001, he has worked without payment since May 2002. He advises the unit on design issues such as the conversion of 100 public spaces across the capital.

Watch This Spacey

Kevin Spacey today unveiled the first season of plays to be performed by the newly formed Old Vic Theatre Company. The season will open in September 2004 and run until July 2005 comprising four productions, two of them British premieres. As Artistic Director, Spacey will direct the first play and star in two later productions, including the legendary Philadelphia Story. Sir Ian Mckellen is also lined up to star in the Christmas panto. In a bid to attract younger audiences every performance will have 100 seats available at £12 for under 25’s.

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