In his famous driving-instructor monologue, Bob Newhart was intrigued when his new pupil told him she had already been taught the two ways of stopping a car. Overcome with curiosity, he asked her about the second way. Yes, he had to admit, throwing the car into reverse is another way of stopping it.

Julian Opie may be too young to remember the joke, but he has certainly grasped the principle. He has stopped working in his old manner by contradicting as many of its previous characteristics as possible. Brushy painting has been replaced by spraying, primary colors have mutated into cosmeticized