via The Mirror:
His latest exhibition at the Wallace Collection has been slated and now Damien Hirst has sunk almost 50 places from the top of a list of the art world's most influential people.
Last year, Science, the company behind Hirst's artistic production, marketing and publicity, was ranked number one in the ArtReview Power 100 list.
But at number 48 this year, Hirst was perhaps the most prominent casualty due to his stepping away from the limelight following his straight-to-market auction at Sotheby's last year, which grossed £111 million.
Hirst is currently showing a collection of paintings of skulls in the formal setting of the Wallace Collection in London, marking a dramatic departure from previous exhibits, which included his best known works - animals preserved in formaldehyde.
He has personally funded a £250,000 refurbishment of the galleries so that visitors can see his works for free.
But his latest collection has received a poor reception from critics.
The contemporary art magazine said the worldwide recession had blown around a third of last year's entries out of the line-up altogether.
Topping the list this year is Hans Ulrich Obrist, co-director of exhibitions and programmes and director of international projects at London's Serpentine Gallery.
He was described by those behind the list as "one of the most active and well-networked figures the contemporary art world has seen".
Organisers said collectors suffered the heaviest fall within the list.
Charles Saatchi is at number 72 this year - plummeting from number 14 in 2008.
The top 10 also includes Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota in third place and Glenn D Lowry, the director of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, comes second.
They are joined in the top 10 by non-museum and commercial gallery figures, who the magazine said had showed their ability to capitalise on the changing times.
Iwona Blazwick, director of London's re-launched Whitechapel Gallery, is at number nine while Venice Biennale director Daniel Birnbaum is in fourth place.
At number 10, Bruce Nauman is the highest-ranking artist, recognised for his sprawling exhibition in Venice this year, for which he was awarded a Golden Lion - Nauman's second - and reflecting his worldwide influence.
Last year's top artist Jasper Johns, at number nine, has slipped to 74. Jeff Koons comes in at 13 and Jay Joplin at 14.
Other notables are Takashi Murakama at 17, Paul McCarthy at 39, Cindy Sherman at 42 and Sadie Coles at 84.
The list is compiled by ArtReview staff, in consultation with a global network of contributing editors and an international panel.
The eighth annual ranking of the most powerful players in the contemporary art world - the ArtReview Power 100 - is published in ArtReview's November issue and a website - www.artreview100.com - is also featuring those listed.
[see list here]
