Beards inspire new show by art duo Gilbert & George

While British art duo Gilbert & George are clean-shaven in real life, their latest series of surreal self-portraits sees them don beards made of wire mesh, foliage, flowers and even rabbits. The contemporary pair, who have created as a single provocative force for half a century, are set to open "The Beard Pictures" at the Thaddaeus Ropac gallery's Pantin site northeast of Paris. The set of 172 pictures are divided across six shows, in Paris, New York, London, Brussels, Naples and Athens from now till next March.