The Facts
Tate Britain in London is presenting "End of a Century 1990-2000," an ongoing exhibition that examines the transformative decade of British art, marked by media, money, and celebrity. The show highlights the rise of the Young British Artists (YBAs), including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, who gained fame for their provocative works and entrepreneurial self-promotion in East London warehouses. It also features artists like Mona Hatoum, Peter Doig, and Wolfgang Tillmans, whose lyrical and conceptual practices offered a counterpoint to the YBA phenomenon.
The Signal
The exhibition contextualizes the era within the political optimism of Tony Blair's New Labour government and the 'Cool Britannia' moment, which increased arts funding and museum access. For collectors and curators, the show underscores the lasting market and institutional significance of the 1990s British art scene, a period that reshaped contemporary art's relationship with celebrity and commerce. It also highlights the diversity of practices that emerged, from YBA provocation to more introspective approaches, offering a nuanced view of a decade that continues to influence today's art world.
- Artists: Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Mona Hatoum, Peter Doig, Wolfgang Tillmans
- People: Tony Blair
- Museums: Tate Britain
- Locations: London
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