Amsterdam is set to have the world première in the autumn. The Rijksmuseum will be allowed to put British artist Damien Hirst's priceless skull on display. What is the significance of this controversial work of art?
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The piece, named For the Love of God, is a cast of the skull of a man who lived in the eighteenth century. It has a platinum casing in which 8,601 diamonds have been set.
Last year, Hirst's skull was sold to a group of investors for 75 million euros, the largest amount ever paid for the work of a living artist. Damien Hirst was one of the investors.
The Rijksmuseum interprets the significance of the work of art as:
"For the Love of God and Hirst's choice show how through the ages the fear of death is being captured in beauty".
Erik Bos, owner of Galerie Nouvelles Images in The Hague:
"You cannot discuss it in terms of beautiful or ugly. It is an intervention in art. It is a daring combination to decorate with diamonds something as impermanent as a skull. I think it will become an icon in art history. You could compare it to Duchamps' pissoir; he simply presented a urinal as art.
It changed the world of art. As a gallery owner, I often see art that people have to get used to, me included. But if you are willing to cross that threshold, you can achieve new insights. Would I have wanted to put the skull on display? That is like asking me whether I would like to sit down to dinner with ten kings and princes".
Gijs van Tuyl, director of Amsterdam's modern art museum, the Stedelijk:
"The skull is about three important elements of life: money, fame and death. Only sex is missing. Money, because of the platinum and the diamonds used on the skull; fame, because the work is just as famous as Vermeer's Milk Maid, and it is the artist who creates an image which makes him famous. And, finally, the skull denotes death. I think it's good, and quite beautiful really, exquisite diamonds and platinum. It is expressed very succinctly in the skull, that fame and beauty. This is why it is so expensive. No, I'm not jealous we don't have it. We would not have been able to put it on display (The Stedelijk Museum is temporarily closed for renovation, ed.) I would not have bought it. The idea in itself is so beautiful. You do not have to own everything you think is good". Art consultant Willem Baars (Willem Baars Art Consultancy):
"A work of art always sparks controversy when a lot of money is involved. People will say the money could have been spent on much better things. Is it provocative? It fits with his oeuvre. I have no problems with it. Hirst has set the tune, both in terms of content and marketing strategies. He copied that from Andy Warhol.
Major artists have a good sense of the political, economic and social climate. Hirst rose to prominence in the Thatcher era, when the UK was deeply disillusioned. He provided a new élan. For the Love of God is about universal value like life and death. To this, Hirst links a decadence this world is ailing from. It contains 20 to 25 million euros worth of diamonds, but it's worth 50 to 70 million. Are Hirst's works beautiful? Well, no, but they are good. They will become the style icons of our time".
*RNW translation (gsh)
Tags: Damien Hirst, diamonds , The Rijksmuseum, The Stedelijk