Damien Hirst's Latest

[poliphilo]

When I first read about it I thought it was a banal idea- a skull encrusted in diamonds? Yeah right- sounds like the sort of thing they sell in new age gift shops. But now  that I've seen it (or rather, seen pictures of it) I've changed my mind. 

Because firstly it's such an amazing object- an amazing piece of craftwork- immaculate, every millimetre of surface- including the insides of the eye sockets- covered with flawless gems.  Roll over Faberge.

And because secondly (as Damien himself says) it's just so bonkers- a completely useless object that cost £14 million (or was it £40 million?) to make. It wouldn't be the same if those diamonds were paste- even if they sparkled as bright. It's the apotheosis of art for art's sake, completely gratuitous and therefore heroic.

And because thirdly it's not just a jewel, not just a stunt. And here's the biggest surprise of all: I didn't think I'd be moved by it but I was. You know you're in the presence of something special when you find your preconceptions tumbling. I was expecting something grim and gaudy and it isn't.  It's lovely, chaste, comical.  Skulls smile (they can't help it) and usually this is construed as sinister. But not here. This is one happy skull. It's luminous. It beams at us like Micky Mouse. 

Diamonds are forever in one way and death is forever in another way and this conjunction of the two eternities is doing things to my brain which I'm having difficulty putting into words. Damien talks about  defeating death and, yes, that's a big part of it. He's a religious artist- a catholic artist- and this is his attempt at a Resurrection. He's made an image of death which- because of its materials- platinum and diamonds- has the potential to last as long as the earth does. This death's head is a time capsule we're launching into the future- into the far far future. 

I don't always like what Damien does. He's an ideas man and sometimes the ideas are gauche, simplistic, boring. But every once in a while he comes up with something astonishing- the pickled shark, the bisected cow.  And now this.

Comments

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

A cross between a memento mori and a mirror ball. And I think it works. I'll have to look at the pictures again and again, I think, in order to understand it, but I like it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Damien was interviewed on Newsnight Review yesterday. He's a very engaging character- largely unspoiled (or so it seems) by wealth and success.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

I liked reading your reaction to the piece, largely because it leaves me flat. To me, it looks like something a pimp or rap star would have on his mantle. A machismo posturing, if you will, like owning pit bulls and several firearms.

I did an image search of the guy's work. I find the shark evokes the most disquiet in me, and for that reason I find it compelling. But this is my favorite:
http://www.wirednewyork.com/art/damien_hirst_virgin_mother.jpg

Dry beauty and wet biology, immanence and trancendence, unapproachable and intimate all at once.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm not fond of that one myself. I find it overblown, overcomplicated.

The skull on the other hand strikes me as quite a jolly piece of work. Hirst himself says he was surprised at how it turned out.

The guy runs what amounts to an arts' factory, employs dozens of people and is worth something like £1000,000,000.
He's a phenomenon.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

That's art, I guess. Two pieces, two completely different reactions to each.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Whoops. One zero too many. I meant £100,000,000.

[currawong.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see that, but I guess it's never going to hit ther rural Queensland art-circuit.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Unlikely I'm afraid. You have to book to view it and it's in a room by itself- accessible only by lift- and only a handful of people are admitted at any one time.

[currawong.livejournal.com]

I've been looking at the White-Cube site ...It's got some great stuff ... love the Anthony Gormleys and Gilbert& Georges, ( my! .. haven't they gone all mystical? ).
Perhaps I could splash out a mere ten-thousand pounds for the diamond-dusted print?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'd given up on Damien. I've found his recent work banal and overblown, but this changes everything. I think it's one of the best things he's done.

[sculptruth.livejournal.com]

I love the way you write; I like what you write about. Mind if I add you?

Damien's "minimalist" piece, Armageddon (http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/24th-street-2003-07-same-time-this-year/)was my personal favourite, in all its monstrous horror. All those flies!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, that piece- I couldn't think what it was called or I'd have mentioned it. Terrifying.

I'm very pleased to meet you. I'm adding you back.