Let’s start with the numbers. This sculpture, produced in 2007, is the platinum cast of a real skull, encrusted with 8 601 diamonds. It cost 14 million British pounds to produce and the artist expected 50 million for its sale. This is Damien Hirst’s work of art – titled ‘For the Love of God’.
I came upon it at an exhibition at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence earlier this year. The Palazzo Vecchio serves as Florence’s town hall. In another era, it was home to one of the most famous families in history – the Medici – those financiers of the Italian Renaissance. It’s hard to think of a more appropriate place to exhibit this spectacular skull than in the home that the Medici lorded over.
Damien Hirst came into prominence as one the Young British Artists, or the YBAs, patronised by the Saatchi Gallery. This was a moment in British contemporary art when that island seemed to have found its place in the world again; this time as an edgy, cosmopolitan and diverse society. Cool Britannia. The 90’s!
Cool Britannia was, like the Italian Renaissance, funded by commerce, particularly banking. Saatchi was an ad-man, but the real money that can support a very robust secondary art market came from the City of London and other banking capitals.
By the time 'For the Love of God' was made, Damien Hirst was a rare thing – a millionaire artist, represented in New York by billionaire art dealer and gallerist Larry Gagosian. Dirty sexy money you might say.
Where Hirst intersects with the Medici, there has got to be ammunition. A grand palace that symbolises ruthless material accumulation, Florentine decadence and papal corruption; hosting one of the most blinged-up objects on earth…such a display of riches, in that atmosphere, requires a show of force. Being South African, I get that. And so calmly I walked through the Medici corridors, past heavily armed security, to enter the small completely blacked-up room to view this piece of art.
What did I think when I laid my eyes on the skull? I was already struck by the grandeur of the palace, the ceremony of accessing that room, the fabulosity of it all. I just stared and stared at the diamonds – what else to do?
Image: Friendly stranger outside Palazzo Vecchio.
And I couldn’t help but wonder - who are the Medicis of South Africa? I’m talking about those shamelessly making paper, living it up, defining the nation and breaking some rules along the way. Who and where? Fourways, Morningside, Hyde Park, Irene, Stellenbosch, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Graaf Reinet....I'm talking about you!
More relevant to me, entry-level art collector, who is the Damien Hirst of South Africa? I put the latter question to a prominent Jozi gallerist. He laughed.
The Joburg Art Fair is on this weekend. I can’t wait – I have been told to “diversify” my budding collection by the amused gallerist. I’m not certain about the economics of the matter, but I suspect prices might be a little inflated during the art fair. Or not – perhaps on the last day the galleries go all flea-market-at-3pm, cut their losses and reduce prices. There’s a “global” economic crisis out there, you know. I love art so I’m trying to be not too economisty about it, but I can’t pretend I am oblivious to its value as investment.
Happy Joburg Art Fair to those attending!
More relevant to me, entry-level art collector, who is the Damien Hirst of South Africa? I put the latter question to a prominent Jozi gallerist. He laughed.
The Joburg Art Fair is on this weekend. I can’t wait – I have been told to “diversify” my budding collection by the amused gallerist. I’m not certain about the economics of the matter, but I suspect prices might be a little inflated during the art fair. Or not – perhaps on the last day the galleries go all flea-market-at-3pm, cut their losses and reduce prices. There’s a “global” economic crisis out there, you know. I love art so I’m trying to be not too economisty about it, but I can’t pretend I am oblivious to its value as investment.
Happy Joburg Art Fair to those attending!
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Love_of_God
http://joburgartfair.co.za/
4 comments:
In any case, a little danger is a small price to pay for ridding a place of tourists. Cheap Flights to Johannesburg
That is absolutely a stunning work of art and the amount is totally insane! I recently went to London for a trip (where I stayed at one of those cheap hotels) and one of my itinerary includes a tour to Saatchi Gallery and British Museum. It would have been nice if it was featured there or even a replica of it.
Yeah, that's definitely gorgeous. I guess it would be amazing to see it in person. Though when I went to Italy, there's a museum right across my hotel and it features stunning artworks too so seeing something ravishing like this is not really surprising for me.
I guess it would be nice to personally see it. Tracy, we went to London a few years back, is the Saatchi Gallery near the Royal Albert Hall?
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