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Damien Hirst aims to make 223 lots of money
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent08.09.08
Damien Hirst today unveiled the hundreds of works he is selling at auction and declared it was "probably the most amazing show I've put on".
Surveying room upon room at Sotheby's packed with butterfly and spot paintings and cases of pickled animals, Hirst, 43, called it a "mini retrospective".
The works have all been made over the past two years especially for the sale, entitled Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, which bypasses the traditional dealers.
Hirst admitted he was nervous when he signed up to do it, fearing it would seem like a garage sale.
"But I've had a walk around today and it looks awesome," he said. "It's a big celebration. It's a shame it's not here for longer, but that's the auction business."
The sale of 223 lots is conservatively estimated to make £65million, which is fine by Hirst who has no truck with the notion that artists are meant to be poor.
He said the tradition that galleries take 50 per cent of what an artist makes was "extortionate" though he intends to return to working in galleries after the auction - "if they'll have me".
The sale has prompted criticisms of Hirst's work and love of money from - among others - the revered Australian critic Robert Hughes. But Hirst said simply it was a "shame" that people had to be negative.
"I'm probably the richest artist ever. It's brilliant that I can get a table at my favourite restaurant whenever I want and I don't have to worry about paying the bill. If I sell everything I can buy one [Francis] Bacon triptych. If it was the other way round, you would be worried."
Critics say he has a factory "but there are factories that make dog food and factories that make Aston Martins." His was patently not dog food, he said.
He had been under a lot of pressure, which had proved beneficial. "You think to yourself, it's a new road and it's a bit dangerous, but whatever makes you make great work ... I think there are great examples of everything I've ever done."
The Golden Calf, one of the biggest new pieces, was one of the four best works he had ever made, he said, along with the original shark and his diamond skull.
He retains a stake in the skull but seemed genuinely hazy as to its size, saying that Frank Dunphy, his manager, handled his business affairs.
Cheyenne Westphal, of Sotheby's, said she did not expect many artists to follow Hirst's route direct to auction as few had his pulling power.
"If you go back through history, there are only very few artists who could do something like this. Damien is pretty unique," she said.
The exhibition of works is open to the public every day until the sales next Monday and Tuesday. The glossy three-volume catalogue costs £50.
Reader views (2)
This is liberating and such a contrast between all I know and what I believe in.
I only wish I had the time to explain.
I`ve been painting for 40 years, with a brief period of 30 years to teach and miraculasly still believe in the creative process in spite of imposters like JOLOMO and the one responsible for the unmade bed, you know who I mean.
If HIRST can redress the balance with his influence then go for it kid I only hope he means it and if he does I will support him.
Galleries and hangers-on 0 Hirst 1, let`s see if he can come out for the second half with the same will to win.
In the mean time I will keep painting, he was not the first to figure it out but he could be the most influential.
To be continued.
Derek M.F.Soutar Artist
- Derek M.F.Soutar, Crieff Perthshire Scotland
Hughes is right.
- Larry Gagosian, New York
