DAMIEN HIRST AT TATE MODERN

There are few figures more likely to provoke the mockery of those who scorn modern art as Damien Hirst, whose most famous works, especially his series of sliced, diced and pickled animal corpses, seem designed to be splashed across mid-market newspapers next to the words ‘But is it art?’.

This exhibition at the Tate Modern offers the perfect opportunity to look beyond the headlines, with a range of works spanning Hirst’s quarter century in the limelight, including his trademark spotty paintings, installations like In and Out of Love (not shown complete since its creation in 1991), sculpture and, yes, that shark.

Whether you’re wanting a serious look at one of contemporary British art’s most important figures, or simply looking for a clever retort next time someone sniffs at modern art at a dinner party, this exhibition is the best chance there’s ever been to decide on whether Hirst is a genius or a charlatan.