British artists David Hockney and Damien Hirst feud over use of assistants

A file picture dated 23 November 2009 shows British artist David Hockney pose in front of a photographic copy of his monumental painting 'Bigger Trees Near Warter' (2007) on display at the Tate Britain Gallery, London, Britain. According to reports, Buckingham Palace announced 01 January 2012 that Hockney has been appointed a member of the Order of Merit by the Queen. Hockney has been a leading British pop artist since the 1960s. EPA/FELIPE TRUEBA.

LONDON (AP).- Two of Britain's art superstars are squabbling about whether it's acceptable to use assistants to create works of art. The argument pits painter David Hockney, just awarded Britain's prestigious Order of Merit, against conceptual artist Damien Hirst. Hockney uses the poster for his upcoming Royal Academy show to state that all the works on exhibit were "made by the artist himself." Radio Times magazine reported Tuesday that Hockney said in an interview that the comment was directed at Hirst, who has used assistants to help create some of his most famous pieces. Hirst has said his assistants do a better painting job than he could and that he becomes easily bored. He is best known for suspending a shark in formaldehyde and covering a human skull with more than 8,000 diamonds. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.