Damien Hirst is famous for his audacity. Since the launch of his daring career in the late 90’s, he has dominated the modern art scene throughout the world. Now he’s really pushing the envelope and possibly slaughtering his own golden calf to boot…literally.
This September Hirst will do something that simply isn’t done..he’s taking his new collection straight to the auction block and circumventing the galleries. Needless to say, Sotheby’s is delighted. This audacious move is a first in history for a living artist. Sure, lots of art is sold through the fine auction houses of the world, but usually the artist is long dead. Hirst feels this will give the artist more control and provide a wider audience with the opportunity to purchase his work. Art experts predict the auction could mark a turning point in the way artists sell their work. Look out Christies, bet Banksy will be knockin at your door any day now.
The highlight of the collection is a typically outrageous piece of Hirstian creation called “The Golden Calf” which is of course, a gigantic calf suspended in formaldehyde. The 2.15 metre bull sculpture is crowned by a solid gold disc, while its hooves and horns are cast in 18-carat gold. The piece sits on a gigantic marble base and is encased in a gold-plated box. It’s expected to fetch at least 12 million Euro. The sale will also feature new paintings and sculpture of some of Hirst’s favorite subjects, butterflies, cancer cells and pills. Four of the pieces from the collection will be sold for charity.
Cheyenne Westphal, the chairman of Sotheby's contemporary art in Europe, said: "We are hoping museums and private collectors who make their artworks available to the public on a regular basis will be present."
She added that the latest creations took Hirst's large-scale sculptures to a "new level". "What's new here is the monumental scale and the use of gold," she said.
Check out the Christie’s site for a closer view of some of the other works that will be up on the block. I know I will!
This September Hirst will do something that simply isn’t done..he’s taking his new collection straight to the auction block and circumventing the galleries. Needless to say, Sotheby’s is delighted. This audacious move is a first in history for a living artist. Sure, lots of art is sold through the fine auction houses of the world, but usually the artist is long dead. Hirst feels this will give the artist more control and provide a wider audience with the opportunity to purchase his work. Art experts predict the auction could mark a turning point in the way artists sell their work. Look out Christies, bet Banksy will be knockin at your door any day now.
The highlight of the collection is a typically outrageous piece of Hirstian creation called “The Golden Calf” which is of course, a gigantic calf suspended in formaldehyde. The 2.15 metre bull sculpture is crowned by a solid gold disc, while its hooves and horns are cast in 18-carat gold. The piece sits on a gigantic marble base and is encased in a gold-plated box. It’s expected to fetch at least 12 million Euro. The sale will also feature new paintings and sculpture of some of Hirst’s favorite subjects, butterflies, cancer cells and pills. Four of the pieces from the collection will be sold for charity.
Cheyenne Westphal, the chairman of Sotheby's contemporary art in Europe, said: "We are hoping museums and private collectors who make their artworks available to the public on a regular basis will be present."
She added that the latest creations took Hirst's large-scale sculptures to a "new level". "What's new here is the monumental scale and the use of gold," she said.
Check out the Christie’s site for a closer view of some of the other works that will be up on the block. I know I will!
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