Damien Hirst Debuts Diamond-Studded Baby Skull

[Jazzy]

Damien Hirst isn't known for producing subtle works, but his latest creation has some critics scratching their heads.



The controversial British artist has used a dead baby's skull in his newest piece of art, bejeweling the infant's remains with more than 8,000 diamonds. The piece, titled For Heaven's Sake, will debut at the Gagosian gallery in Hong Kong later this month in the show Forgotten Promises.

The newborn is thought to have died in the 19th century. The baby skull was cast in platinum, and is a follow-up to For the Love of God, a 2007 work featuring the diamond-studded skull of an adult. The asking price for the 2007 piece was more than $50 million, but the sale was private, and it's unclear how much the work actually netted.



Jude Tyrrell, the head of Science Ltd., which produces Hirst's designs, said the skull is odd but beautiful.



Of course it's a delicate subject, but this is from an old collection, which we think is Victorian, and they were obsessed with collecting all sorts of bizarre things, she told The Telegraph of London. I'm a mother, and I do find it slightly odd and strange to look at, but at the same time quite beautiful.



The gallery has not yet released the asking price for For Heaven's Sake.



Hirst often explores the theme of death in his art and has shocked audiences before with pieces like a 22-ton shark he preserved in formaldehyde and reportedly sold to a hedge fund trader in 2004 for a cool $8 million.



Link: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/11/damien-hirst-debuts-diamond-studded-baby-skull/

 

[Evil Eye]

Why would you want it?

 

[Jazzy]

Must say this is one of the most disgusting things I have EVER seen. This is not art this is an atrocious act to do this. Who would want it? Good question EE. Certainly not people who have lost a baby. This whole thing just sickens me.

 

[Durandal]

Must say this is one of the most disgusting things I have EVER seen. This is not art this is an atrocious act to do this. Who would want it? Good question EE. Certainly not people who have lost a baby. This whole thing just sickens me.

While I don't have a taste for such a thing, I think it might go a little far to presume all of those who have lost a baby might reject this outright. There are some out there, that having some sort of keepsake, whether small, or in this case, large, may comfort them more, than having nothing.



It did mention it was somewhat more commonplace in the Victorian Era to have these sorts of things. It probably was stored in a pre-museum type boutique where amateur intellectuals studied odd things before it was institutional, they were often called 'Cabinets of Wonder or Cabinets of Curiosities' and date back to the Renaissance times.

 

[beowulf]

how is this art?............hirst has always done sensationalist stuff...........only reason he can sell stuff imho is cos its so its controversial



i think hes clever....selling complete rubbish to people with more money than sense...............but its not art

 

[Durandal]

how is this art?............hirst has always done sensationalist stuff...........only reason he can sell stuff imho is cos its so its controversial



i think hes clever....selling complete rubbish to people with more money than sense...............but its not art

The classification of what is an art and what isn't, is subjective to the perception of the individual.



'Controversy' on its own, could be considered art to some.



[I'm not defending the guy, like I've said (before I get passive-aggressive ninja-flamed here) - I personally don't find it to be artistic, but there could be, and very likely are that will find a perception of art in this.]

 

[beowulf]

my point is that its only considered 'art' is cos its controversial not cos of any artistic merit

 

[Durandal]

my point is that its only considered 'art' is cos its controversial not cos of any artistic merit

...but some people could find artistic merit within the emotive states developed, because of Controversy, reaped from the existence of this skull in the very way it is. Abstract to an extreme, yes, but some could still find artistic merit to it. Merit comes from individuals whom have a value to place upon it, in this case, money (and I'm sure there will be a few out there that will find praise for it). It's largely a perceptual thing.

 

[The Dragon Master]

I think this is pretty... sick. I wasn't that bothered about the other human skull but a child's? Nah. Doesn't cut it as art for me.