ONE TO WATCH
The shock of the new
Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art / BBC Two, September
On 18 September 1997, an exhibition of work by contemporary artists opened at London's Royal Academy of Arts. Consisting of pieces owned by the collector and businessman Charles Saatehi, including many works by those who came to be known as the Young British Artists (YBAs), Sensation caused just that.
Even 25 years later, it's easy to see why. Entering the exhibition, visitors were warned: “There will be works of art on display in the Sensation exhibition which some people may find distasteful.” Parents were warned to exercise discretion and one gallery was entirely closed to those under the age of 18.
Among the exhibits was Marcus Harvey's , a 1995 portrait of the Moors murderer Myra Hindley.wrote a letter saying the image should be removed. So controversial did it prove that protesters attacked with ink and eggs. After restoration, it was exhibited behind Perspex and guarded by security men.
