Overview

• Damien Hirst reportedly backdated several formaldehyde animal sculptures to the 1990s, though they were made in 2017, according to whistleblowers.
• The backdated works include representations of a dove, a shark, and two calves, previously thought to be from a highly valued period in Hirst's career.
• Hirst's company, Science Ltd, claims that the formaldehyde works are conceptual artworks and the date assigned to them represents the date of conception.
• Critics argue that Hirst's actions betray the trust of the art community and undermine the authenticity of his past works.
• The controversy raises questions about the origins of Hirst's back catalogue and his creative future.