Exhibit 1201 and the definition of art by the Royal Academy of Arts

If we ever needed a cogent reminder that it's in the eye of the beholder, we got it in spades from the summer show at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. David Hensel submitted a laughing head jesmonite sculpture to its open competition in contemporary art. Somehow, apparently in transit, the head got separated from its base and both were judged as separate works by the Academy. The head was rejected. The base, a hewn piece of flat stone with a wooden prop, found itself labeled as "Exhibit 1201" and selected for display from over 9000 submissions. The Academy denies any error, firmly stating that the base was "thought to have merit."