For the Love of God: Difference between revisions
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*[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article1991133.ece Plagiarism claims] |
*[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article1991133.ece Plagiarism claims] |
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*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/6713309.stm Interview with video] |
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/6713309.stm Interview with video] |
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*[http://www.geekologie.com/2007/06/damien_hirsts_for_the_love_of.php Picture of the artwork "For the Love of God"] |
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{{Young British Artists}} |
{{Young British Artists}} |
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Revision as of 14:10, 14 November 2007
| For the Love of God | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Damien Hirst |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | platinum, diamond, human teeth |
| Location | White Cube Gallery, London |
For the Love of God is a sculpture by artist Damien Hirst produced in 2007. It consists of a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds, including a pear-shaped pink diamond located in the forehead of the skull. Costing £14 million to produce, the work went on display at the White Cube gallery in London at an asking price of £50 million, which at the time, if sold, would be the highest price ever for a single work by a living artist.[1]
History
The human skull used as the base for the work, bought in a shop in Islington, is thought to be that of a European living between 1720 and 1810.[1]. The work's title was supposedly inspired by his mother, who once asked, “For the love of God, what are you going to do next?”[2]
8,601 flawless pavé diamonds, weighing in total 1,106.18 carats,[3] over a platinum cast, cover the entirety of the skull, with the exception of the original teeth of the skull. At the centre of the forehead lies a pear-shaped pink diamond, the centrepiece of the work. All diamonds used for the work were ethically sourced.[1]
On 1 June 2007, the work went on display in an illuminated glass case in a darkened room on the top floor of the White Cube gallery in St James's, London[3][1] with heavy security[4]. It was reported on 11 June 2007 that the singer George Michael and his partner Kenny Goss were interested in purchasing the piece for around £50 million ($100m).[5]
Hirst stated the idea for the work came from a turquoise skull of Aztec origin at the British Museum.[1] Artist John LeKay, a friend of Hirst's in the early 1990s, claims the work is based on a skull covered with crystals, which LeKay had made in 1993.[6]
A photo of the work thrown out with rubbish bags outside the White Cube gallery was a spoof by an artist "Laura" who created a replica skull with 6522 Swarovski crystals.[7]
Disputed Sale
Hirst claims that the piece was sold on 30 August 2007, for £50 million ($100m), to an anonymous consortium[8]. Christina Ruiz, editor of The Art Newspaper, claims that Hirst had failed to find a buyer and had been trying to offload the skull for £38 million[9]. Immediately after these allegations were made, Hirst claimed he had sold it for the full asking price, in cash, leaving no paper trail.
Harry Levy, vice chairman of the London Diamond Bourse and Club, said "I would estimate the true worth of the skull as somewhere between £7 million and £10 million."[9] Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs would expect £8.5 million in VAT payments, if Hirst really did receive £50 million.[9] David Lee, editor of The Jackdaw, commented "Everyone in the art world knows Hirst hasn't sold the skull. It's clearly just an elaborate ruse to drum up publicity and rewrite the book value of all his other work."[9]
Reviews
Richard Dorment, art critic of the Daily Telegraph wrote: "If anyone but Hirst had made this curious object, we would be struck by its vulgarity. It looks like the kind of thing Asprey or Harrods might sell to credulous visitors from the oil states with unlimited amounts of money to spend, little taste, and no knowledge of art. I can imagine it gracing the drawing room of some African dictator or Colombian drug baron. But not just anyone made it - Hirst did. Knowing this, we look at it in a different way and realise that in the most brutal, direct way possible, For the Love of God questions something about the morality of art and money."[3]
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d e BBC News article, retrieved 1 June 2007.
- ^ New York Times article. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
- ^ a b c Dorment, Richard, "For the love of art and money", Daily Telegraph, 1 June 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2007
- ^ BBC news report, retrieved 1 June 2007.
- ^ Yahoo! Music (UK), retrieved 11 June 2007
- ^ Alberge, Dalya. "My old friend Damien stole my skull idea", The Times, 27 June 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
- ^ Rawlings, Ashley. "Damien Hirst’s £50m artwork trashed: London’s White Cube Gallery gets bored with Hirst’s diamond skull, chucks it out", with photo of the spoof, tokyoartbeat.com, 18 July 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
- ^ Article in The Independent
- ^ a b c d Owen, Glen and Dunbar, Polly. Daily Mail, 9 September 2007.
External links