At the mention of the scandalous Briton, art objects pop up in memory, causing both horror and delight. Dissected and alcoholized animals, human skulls, paintings with cemetery motifs attracted public attention in the early 90s of the last century.
The theme of death always runs red thread through the work of Damien Hirst. So, a dead shark drenched in formaldehyde scares and repels the viewer, who understands that the inanimate body retains a recognizable appearance. People interpret the object of rejection through the prism of who it once was. Despite conceptual ideas, all the artist’s exhibitions are accompanied by scandals.
Symbol of death
The human skull has always been a symbol of decay and death. Like everything mysterious and frightening, he attracted the attention of creative people and instilled horror in the hearts of the audience. There are many artists, sculptors, writers who have dedicated their creations to this subject.
A diamond skull, whose photo causes admiration and fear, is a bewitching work of Damien Hirst. Revealing the idea of the corruption of our lives, the author worships death, presents it in various forms and makes good money on it.
The most discussed artist of our time, exciting the world with his masterpieces, as if making a challenge, trying to study the nature of death and demonstrating the victory of life over it.
The most expensive work of art
The diamond skull, known as "For the Love of God", has become the most expensive work of art by a living author. To a master who inlaid a platinum dummy with white and pink diamonds in 2007, he cost $ 20 million. As stated by Hurst himself, known for his creative approach to work, his work does not have a clear meaning, and the viewer interprets the meaning in his own way.
However, the master, who loves provocation, always focuses on the delicate balance between life and death. The viewer looks at the diamond skull associated with the decay, and realizes that this is the end. But death, which is so beautiful, still inspires him with hope. Gems with a dark side are associated with luxurious life as well as eternity.
How was a diamond skull created?
Damien Hirst took the skull of a European who lived in the 18th century from the Kunstkamera’s collection and made it a mold in which he made small cells for precious stones using a laser. A brilliant provocateur, who claims that an unusual idea came to his mind under the influence of Aztec art, covered the work with platinum.
Diamonds are provided by renowned jewelers who are the suppliers of the royal court of England. Faceted diamonds are carefully inserted into miniature holes and firmly fixed. The most expensive stone (pink diamond weighing more than 52 carats) is located in the forehead of the skull, from which all the teeth were removed, and instead of them platinum was installed.
Who are the owners of the precious masterpiece?
It is known that the buyer of a work of art, nicknamed by critics as real bad taste, was a group of anonymous investors who acquired a diamond skull for one hundred million dollars. This is a record price for a masterpiece by a contemporary artist. Hurst claims that he was paid in cash, so he cannot provide evidence of the transaction. Later, journalists found out an amazing fact: the author himself and his manager F. Dunphy were among the investors.
And soon new information appeared about the owner of the diamond skull. It turned out to be the Ukrainian tycoon V. Pinchuk, who is interested in contemporary art, although his representatives did not confirm this fact, but they did not refute it either.
An opportunity to get acquainted with a frightening creation
Damien Hirst's diamond skull (a photo of an unusual work bypassed all the media) was exhibited in Amsterdam and Florence, and in 2012 was displayed in the gallery of London. The author himself admitted that he was happy, because the Tate Modern hall is a wonderful place to get acquainted with a work that evokes a variety of emotions.
The thing is that not a single museum in the world could afford to exhibit an expensive exhibit, since government agencies could not afford to cover the cost of insurance, which is kept secret. Work could appear in the Hermitage, but due to the financial issue, the tour fell through.
A new masterpiece that seeks its master
It is curious that Hirst, making a career on the topic of death, did not rest on his laurels and presented a new shocking work called "For God's sake." At the end of 2010, the master of provocations cast another diamond skull of a newborn baby, which he took from the collection of pathologies of the human body.
The cost of work inlaid with white and pink diamonds is not called, but art historians estimate it at 200 million pounds. If someone wants to buy this sculpture, then it will become the most expensive item in the world of contemporary art.