On the 26th of April the Independent newspaper published an article titled 'YBAs : the next generation on show' This article featured the line up for the upcoming British Art Show 7 and had a brief biography of each of the artists involved. One of which was Haroon Mirza who is a studio member in S1 gallery where I am currently participating in my student bursary scheme.
On the day of publication he received an email from the Lisson gallery (who are representing him) telling him that there had been a mix up at the newspaper and the image that the Independent had printed next to his name wasn't actually him. The Independent had quite obviously googled 'Haroon Mirza' and selected the first image they believed to bare his resemblance. Whilst this is an easy mistake to make, as soon as the Independent published this article in the press the issue became more problematic. For all the many mistakes that exist within user generated blogs they hold little online authority, however when a national newspaper publishes an error of this nature, a simple mistake can become a concrete definition of what something is.
The newspaper later apologised and changed the image online, however the printed version is still in circulation and there is another Haroon Mirza out there who was once recognised as the one of new face of British art, he just doesn't know it.
PETER MARTIN
UPDATED IMAGE OF HARROON MIRZA VIA THE INDEPENDENT 27/4/10
