Article: Big fish in a big pond Damien Hirst won't be at the Turner Prize tonight - these days, the world's most famous contemporary artist is too busy conquering New York, says ALISON ROBERTS

THE most famous contemporary artist in the world will not attend the most celebrated contemporary art prize in Britain this evening, more's the pity. The Turner Prize isn't really his scene, you imagine.

He's not into public backslapping, nor does he much value the company of art-world suits and British critics. Besides, he's already won it - in 1995 when the prize was still "notorious" and the nation had yet to overcome its natural suspicion towards artists in general and Young British Artists in particular; when the prize grabbed front- page headlines, in other words.

Damien Hirst's sense of timing has always been perfect.

This year, he's turned his back on London, just as London ...

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