I will introduce a peculiar artist, Damien Hirst as my hero. Though neither did he give a reason for life nor is he hero of swashbuckling movies, Damien Hirst, a British artist is my hero since he always gives me a lot of inspiration.
Contrary to his easygoing attitude to art, his works are all sensational and shocking. After he won the Turner prize in 1995, he became renowned as a notorius artist.
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| Mother and Child Divided (1993) Winner of the 1995 Turner prize |
It was a controversial issue at first because his prized work was made of a severed dead cow. Many ardent animal lovers frowned upon his work, and newspapers reported this with cynical headlines, like: “Carcase Man Hirst Scoops Turner Prize”.
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| The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) |
Moreover, his work “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living”, which is made of a shark in formaldehyde with a vitrine, was sold for £50,000 although the prime cost of shark was £6,000. Some people, like Stuckists, a British artist group, harbor the idea that there is no difference between his work and a regular shark caught by a fisherman. But, they cannot deny that it is a bona fide icon of 90’s British art.
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| For the Love of God(2007) |
Not only does he know how to get people’s attention, but he also knows how to maximize his commercial value, unlike other artists. (Since commercialism has been excluded from the art world). In an interview, a reporter said to him, “Most people buy your work not because they like your art but because they consider your work as a luxurious brand.” He answered, “If the buyers like it, no problem. My work is long-lasting and the customer service is good also.”
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| Beautiful Helios Hysteria Intense Painting (with Extra Inner Beauty) (2008) |
Opinions greatly diverge on evaluating him. Some people treat him as an art guru whilst others regard him as an eccentric geek. One thing is obvious,his work is on everyone's lips. He reminds me of “Fontaine” of Marcel Duchamp. By bringing the concept of ready-made art to the world, he expanded the definition of art. Or rather, he changed the meaning of existing art completely. Like Duchamp did, Damien Hirst is always trying to challenge tradition, raise questions about natural rules, and suggest new paradigms to the art world. Needless to say, such an attempt not only will enlarge the spectrum of modern art, but also will be superior paragon for would-be creators including me.
Official website of Damien Hirst : http://www.damienhirst.com
Many links related to Damien Hirst (e.g : Articles, Galleries) : http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/hirst_damien.html
