The Daily Telegraph reports that Damien Hirst wants to destroy an early wall-painted spot painting and also wants to block the sale. “Bombay Mix” was painted by Hirst on a wall in a London apartment owned by Jamie Ritblat. The apartment changed hands, and then in 2007, the owner Jess Simpson took the painting off the wall and mounted it, hoping to sell it.

Hirst’s company, Science Ltd, states that Hirst has the right of ownership of “Bombay Mix” because Science Ltd. holds the original certificate of authenticity—without this certificate, this painting supposedly has no value.

According to the BBC, Simpson had contacted Sotheby’s and Christie’s, but perhaps because the auction houses did not want to damage their relationships with Hirst and his company, they refused to accept the piece for auction. Currently, the work is in a London gallery.

(source: hyperallergic)