Tag Archives: Damien Hirst

Elementary, my dear Times

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Theorem: Idea 1 + Idea 2 = Idea 3


1) The Times reports that YBA artist Michael Landy is creating an Art Bin for himself and the general public to throw artwork into as a “monument to creative failure.”

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2) The Times reports that another YBA, Damien Hirst, is the face of the past decade in art. Sic,

“Hirst’s bespectacled mug has dominated the British art scene over the past decade since he led his gang of Goldsmiths-trained artists out of the garret and into the market. … Even when banking systems crumbled he remained undaunted. When the fuss had died down, his face popped up again. He had gone back to the garret and taken up painting. The only difference was that now he could afford to pay for the heating.”

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3) We throw Hirst in the Art Bin…?

Damien Hirst: Practice Makes Perfect

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“Anyone can be like Rembrandt. I don’t think a painter like Rembrandt is a genius. It’s about freedom and guts. It’s about looking. It can be learnt. That’s the great thing about art. Anybody can do it if you just believe. With practice you can make great paintings.”

The artist poses in front of his latest show

The Telegraph reports that Hirst: “made the comments as he defended himself from critics of his latest exhibition at the Wallace Collection in London, which has been described as “an embarrassment” and “shockingly bad”. He admitted he had a long way to go before equalling the 17th century Dutch master, but dismissed the idea that Rembrandt was a genius and claimed that, with practice, he could learn to paint like him.”

While I might not entirely disagree with Hirst’s comment, it’s hilarious that he is getting defensive now. Apparently putting animals in formaldehyde for ridiculous amounts of money required no comment. He really branched out with his work, and kudos to him for taking that kind of risk. At the same time his idealism- anybody can be a great painter if they just believe- isn’t working here, at least according to the critics. Maybe he needs more practice?