Damien Hirst and his work "For the love of God"(2008)
Dicuss his persona and relate to the Renaissance concept of merchantilism and the increased status of artist.
Damien Hirst is the member of the group"Young British Artist"(YBA). Hirst's work explores intallation art, conceptual art and painting. He is the one of the most renowned artists and "the richest living artist to date."(Damien Hirst Wikipedia, n.d.)
While he was a student in Goldsmith's College in London, he organised enormously successful 'Freeze' exibition that featured his works along with that of fellow students. The exibition caught the influential art collector, Charles Saatchi and it is said to be the begining point of YBA movement. Hirst is best known for the 'Natural History' series of work in which dead animals are preserved in tanks.He is also interested in medical paraphernalia and has produced a series of spot paintings, spin paintings and steel and glass cases (Damien Hirst (born 1965) National Galleries of Scottland, n.d.)
The work by Damien Hirst that i am going to talk about is 'For the Love of God'(2007).
A dimond encrusted on platinum cast of a real human skull. 8,601 flawless diamonds including the large pink diamond (on the forehead) weighing total 1106.18carats over platinum cast cover the entirety of the skull with exception of the original teeth of the skull.It was first displayed at White Cube Gallery, St James, London on 1.June.2007(For the Love of God, Wikipedia, n.d.) According to ,the article from The Independent UK, 'Hirst's glittering price tag loses none of its shine' Hirst sold the work to for ￡50m to unnamed investment group in30.Aug.2007
The work 'For theLove of God' done by Damien Hirst can be seen as an example of materialism which derived back from the merchantilism in Renaissance. The work shows the money and the spectator can easily catch the extragvance of diamonds at the first sight of this work. It implicates the ideas of money, luxuriousness and the significance of both. As similar to some European countries in Renaissance period that they value the gold as the best and did everything they can to accumulate it.
The status of artist risen in the Renaissance period and it continues until today. Once again, Damien Hirst is the example of it. The name Damien Hirst is a brand in the art society. Mostly due to his innovative and creative works however the persona he shows himself in public adds to the conspicuousness of him. He had drug and alchohol problem in 90's and during that time he was renowned for his wild behavior and extrovert acts (Damien Hirst Wikipedia n.d.) The fame and the value of his name really have sold many of his work in high prices. I also think that because he is so famous and renowned he can get away criticism of his work. I totally agree with Richard Dorment comments about the work in his article 'For the love of art and money' in Telegraph 1.Jun.2007. "If anyone but Hirst made this curious object we would struck by vulgarity. "
Reference
Dicuss his persona and relate to the Renaissance concept of merchantilism and the increased status of artist.
Damien Hirst is the member of the group"Young British Artist"(YBA). Hirst's work explores intallation art, conceptual art and painting. He is the one of the most renowned artists and "the richest living artist to date."(Damien Hirst Wikipedia, n.d.)
While he was a student in Goldsmith's College in London, he organised enormously successful 'Freeze' exibition that featured his works along with that of fellow students. The exibition caught the influential art collector, Charles Saatchi and it is said to be the begining point of YBA movement. Hirst is best known for the 'Natural History' series of work in which dead animals are preserved in tanks.He is also interested in medical paraphernalia and has produced a series of spot paintings, spin paintings and steel and glass cases (Damien Hirst (born 1965) National Galleries of Scottland, n.d.)
The work by Damien Hirst that i am going to talk about is 'For the Love of God'(2007).
A dimond encrusted on platinum cast of a real human skull. 8,601 flawless diamonds including the large pink diamond (on the forehead) weighing total 1106.18carats over platinum cast cover the entirety of the skull with exception of the original teeth of the skull.It was first displayed at White Cube Gallery, St James, London on 1.June.2007(For the Love of God, Wikipedia, n.d.) According to ,the article from The Independent UK, 'Hirst's glittering price tag loses none of its shine' Hirst sold the work to for ￡50m to unnamed investment group in30.Aug.2007
The work 'For theLove of God' done by Damien Hirst can be seen as an example of materialism which derived back from the merchantilism in Renaissance. The work shows the money and the spectator can easily catch the extragvance of diamonds at the first sight of this work. It implicates the ideas of money, luxuriousness and the significance of both. As similar to some European countries in Renaissance period that they value the gold as the best and did everything they can to accumulate it.
The status of artist risen in the Renaissance period and it continues until today. Once again, Damien Hirst is the example of it. The name Damien Hirst is a brand in the art society. Mostly due to his innovative and creative works however the persona he shows himself in public adds to the conspicuousness of him. He had drug and alchohol problem in 90's and during that time he was renowned for his wild behavior and extrovert acts (Damien Hirst Wikipedia n.d.) The fame and the value of his name really have sold many of his work in high prices. I also think that because he is so famous and renowned he can get away criticism of his work. I totally agree with Richard Dorment comments about the work in his article 'For the love of art and money' in Telegraph 1.Jun.2007. "If anyone but Hirst made this curious object we would struck by vulgarity. "
Reference
Byrne, C (2007, Aug 31). Hirst's glittering price tag loses none of its shine, The Independent, Retrieved April 19, 2010 from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/hirsts-glittering-price-tag-loses-none-of-its-shine-463675.html
Dorment,R (2007.Jun 1). for the love of art and money, Uk.Telegraph, Retrieved April 19, 2010 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3665529/For-the-love-of-art-and-money.html
Damien Hirst (born 1965).(n.d.).Retrieved April 19,2010 from http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collections
(no author) Damien Hirst.(n.d.).Retrieved April 19,2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Hirst
(no author) For the Love of God.(n.d). Retrieved April 20, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Love_of_god
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ReplyDeleteI think this is interesting information on your blogging. I read that his teeth are still showing, but the rest of his work is covered with 8601 diamonds.Since the Renaissance mercantilism has developed. Wealth's symbol changed that how much money who has from object such as gold. I think that it is how these works related to merchantilism.
ReplyDeleteHi Eunice! , good information was gathered here on your blog, well done! I really like how you included one of the information about how Damien Hirst had a alcohol and drug problem in the 90's. This information really supports the idea of Hirst having a wild and outgoing persona in him, in my opinion. He really is one free individual, who has somehow earned his place in the contemporary art as the 'rock-star artist' in the art industry, who earns alot of money for his crazy works and get credit for it at the end. What do you think about his work? as your own opinion?
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