Yes – I said it, and if he comes asking... I will say it again. The more look at the work of Hist the more I realise just how important it is for an artist not to be successful in their own time. The more successful you are, the more you play to the masses. I fully believe that Hirst has a talent and some of his pieces are quite striking but his lust for money far outweighs his quest for genuine work with a message or aim. A diamond encrusted skull.
The guy is a fine example of how art is becoming a commodity. The more a piece is talked about and discussed then it invariably becomes a part of modern culture. Like or loath his work it gets people talking and generates its own publicity. This drives the values of the work up and lines his pockets.
All of Hirsts work seems to centre around death and escapism from reality. He creates grim and morbid work to startle and challenge his audiences. It is no secret that death is mans biggest fear in life, countless religions have been created to assure and reassure people about death. Hirst plays on these fears and creates striking images of death and brings you up close and personal to it. You cannot help but question your own mortality. I do think that he has became a victim of his own success, not unlike his great friend Joe Strummer. The more shocking he makes a piece then the more it gets talked about. Controversy breeds debate. Debate breeds interest. Interest fills the exhibition. Full exhibition equals high value art. All in all he benefits. My solution would be to shoot Damien Hirst or at least give him an spine transplant.. good god man have some principals!
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