Is Damien Hirst planning to open a Vauxhall gallery?

The Independent on Sunday reports that the artist is planning to rival his former mentor Charles Saatchi by opening a gallery in some Vauxhall railway arches to show his own controversial works as well as pieces by others artists from his private collection.

Hirst already uses the 2,500 sq ft site as a workshop and a gallery in Vauxhall would provide a new starting point for the contemporary art trail along the south bank of the Thames, which takes in the Saatchi Gallery at County Hall and Bankside's Tate Modern.

A source close to Hirst told the newspaper that the idea is still at a very early stage, and spokeswoman for Hirst's company Science Ltd said: "He certainly has an interest in a gallery."