Damien Hirst’s Mythical Creatures Appear at Chatsworth House

Damien Hirst is moving on to mythical creatures, and while they may be unpickled, they are still not quite in pristine shape.

Two new Hirst works will go on public display at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire next week. The newest, Legend, is a winged horse that has been partly surgically flayed, exposing muscle and bone. The other is a unicorn called Myth, with skin removed from its legs.

Hirst said the pieces were a continuation of his interest in the relationship between science and religion. They follow Hirst works such as Hymn, the large anatomical toy and the Virgin Mother, a dissected pregnant woman.

The works will be part of a Sotheby’s selling exhibition of monumental sculpture atChatsworth, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Devonshire.

Hirst reckons that mythical creatures are the way to go which confirms the myth that he is off his rocker.

The sculptures up for sale range from the 1930s to the present day and include work by artists including Marc Quinn, Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Barry Flanagan and Lynn Chadwick. They are on public display from 16 September to 30 October.

Dad’s Army star Arthur Lowe honoured with blue plaque

A blue plaque dedicated to Dad’s Army star Arthur Lowe was unveiled at his
Derbyshire birthplace by comedy co-star Ian Lavender.

Lavender, who played Private Pike in the long-running sitcom, was in Hayfield
to lead the tribute to the much-loved Captain Mainwaring actor.

The ceremony was organised by Derbyshire County Council following a vote on
its website.

Lavender said he thought Lowe would have been “chuffed” with the honour.