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Damien Hirst - Pharmacy, 1992
Room installation, Mixed media
Dimensions variable

“Yesterday, Cartrain told The Independent: “I went to the Tate Britain and by chance had a golden opportunity to borrow a packet of pencils from the Pharmacy exhibit. That same day I made up a fake police appeal poster advertising that the pencils had been removed from the Tate and that if anyone had any information they should contact the police on the phone number advertised. “A few weeks later I went out and I returned home to find out the art and antiques squad from New Scotland Yard had called round with a warrant for my arrest.” He was told by custody officers that the pencils were valued at £500,000 and that he had damaged “the concept of a public artwork titled Pharmacy … valued at £10,000,000”. Cartrain is on bail and, if convicted, his actions will feature among the highest value modern art thefts in Britain. The box of pencils – a very rare “Faber Castell dated 1990 Mongol 482 Series” – will be put back by Hirst, although the installation is no longer on public display.

Really? The pencils are that integral to the piece?

Damien Hirst in vicious feud with teenage artist over a box of pencils - The Independent

via britticisms