I’ve been told that my choice of works for the Director’s Cut on the Public Catalogue Foundation is too historical and doesn’t sufficiently convey the character of the contemporary Royal Academy.   So, I’m going to add Michael Craig-Martin’s self-portrait, which he gave as his diploma work in December 2007.   I like the fact that it’s a self-portrait.   I remember one of the RA’s saying how delighted he was that portraits had been eradicated from the Summer Exhibition, so Craig-Martin is characteristically going against the trend.   I admire his intellectual rigour and independence of mind, so this is an unashamed tribute:

Photo: R.A./John Hammond © The Artist