As one of the leading lights of young British artists, known as YBAs, Hume rocked the art establishment in 1997 when his work formed part of the first Sensation exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts. Now, he has startled the art world again. In a private vote held in London on Thursday night, the artist was elected as a member of the RAA, an organisation he once reportedly said he would never join because of the conservative nature of its members. The academy is a place that is run by artists and that cares about art. It is also all about history and the continuity of art.
All art becomes history as soon as it is made, so it is inevitably part of a tradition.
Hume said he was working on a giant bronze snowman which will go on display next year in the courtyard of the academy. In Britain, the decision to stage the show led four of the 80 academicians to resign. It seemed to me that the people at the academy have got into a slightly inhuman state of mind,' said Ayres at the time, although she too accepted re-election to the RAA last year. I don't know whether it is ludicrously funny or tragically sad,' said Thompson, who is standing in the general election against outgoing Culture Secretary Chris Smith in Islington South. Thompson opposes New Labour's support for 'meaningless and trendy art'.