Royal artist on attack

THE Queen's new official sculptor has attacked Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, dismissing their work as "modernist rubbish".

Alexander Stoddart, who describes himself as unashamedly elitist, called Emin "the high priestess of societal decline".

His comments came in an attack on the National Galleries of Scotland, which he accused of "whoring" itself to attract leading modern artists.

Stoddart claimed the galleries were pandering to populist appeal by purchasing and exhibiting overpriced works by artists such as Hirst and Emin when it should be concentrating on "overlooked" art by 19th century Scottish sculptors to "stretch" the public. The NGS declined to comment.