Bitter Feud & Saatchi Relocates

Charles Saatchi is moving his London art gallery out of its County Hall premises following an "endless campaign of petty unpleasantness" by its landlord. The multimillionaire art collector accused Japanese businessman Makota "Mac" Okamoto of creating a "malevolent atmosphere", adding: "The behaviour of the landlord has made our long-term tenancy untenable". The announcement will not shock many, and comes as the bitter climax of a long-running feud between the gallery and Mr Okamoto. The dispute has at times verged on the farcical: Mr Okamoto has been accused not only of changing the locks on the gallery's sole disabled lavatory, but also of kicking a realistic sculpture of a homeless person in a sleeping bag, a work by celebrated British artist Gavin Turk. Mr Okamoto reportedly clashed with gallery employees several times, particularly when staff failed to recognise him. For the full story - click the title Irish Art