The auction, entitled Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, broke new ground as the first time an artist has sold a bulk lot of work directly, bypassing art galleries who charge commission of up to 50 per cent of the sale price.
“Cow”
Monday’s auction also represented a new record for a sale dedicated to one artist, Sotheby’s said – it beat the previous record set in 1993 for 88 works by Pablo Picasso, which went for a total of $US20 million ($25.1 million).
“Paradox”
And it proved there is no shortage of art buyers even in the current economic gloom, which hit new lows yesterday after the collapse of US investment giant Lehman Brothers plunged the financial markets into turmoil.
Exhibits
“I think the market is bigger than anyone knows,” Hirst said after the sale. “I love art and this proves I’m not alone and the future looks great for everyone!”
“The Golden Calf”
The top selling item was The Golden Calf, where Hirst returned to the style that made him famous and put a real calf in a tank of formaldehyde, adding 18-carat gold hoofs and horns and a gold disc on its head.
“Hymn”
It had been estimated at between £8 million and £12 million, but in the end sold for £10.3 million, establishing a new record for a Hirst work at auction.
“Virgin Mother”
Another highlight was The Kingdom, a tiger shark in formaldehyde, which easily beat its estimate of £4 million to £6 million by selling for a spectacular £9.5 million.
“Virgin Mother”
I just love to see how artists and their art pieces evolve into new and incredible beings. A big part of me longs to create in such a way. Maybe I'll pull out my art materials once my life is a bit more orderly.
Hi Mr. Hirst, this is Zbigniew Fitz and Emilia Fitz speaking. We admire you mostly because of your VIRGIN MOTHER. We have something in common since we also do art - and we are talking here about good art. We can identify with you - understanding on the same level. It's the level called poetry. Your sculpture is striking. It makes us stop. To see what is under the skin is the role of artist. We are living in time of high technology when things can be proven, our ideas and knowledge of the world. Before science was born, knowledge was the power of the reason. Whether it was Democritus talking to Greeks about atoms as the uniform elements of the universe, or Plato's diversity - duality of nature. And it was true. Now we know more about complexity of life. Maybe during all this process of development of understanding we forgot about the role of emotions - the first source of reason. Probably the beginning of the interest for reasoning came from emotional engagement, from the quiet state of mind in reflection - the poetry - the greatest and natural quality of the human race. The poetry is the third eye which all good artists are using to see under all surfaces. VIRGIN makes us stop. Under her skin there is no blood or clinical narratives. It is a metaphor and invitation to be amazed by spectaculaire machine we are. She is still, she is majestic - a perfect timeless beauty of life itself .
Posted by: Fitzemilia | 12/19/2010 at 03:58 PM
Actually, this is not Hirst's site. I merely posted this to share some of the amazing work that he has done. I'm glad he is inspiring to you as well.
Posted by: Lauren | 12/19/2010 at 06:02 PM