Damien Hirst, The Physical Impossibility of of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, 1992Collection of Steven A. Cohen, currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
(Image source)
(Image source)
Keeping on with the theme of Modern Art and the Saatchi Gallery this is one work that has definitely left the collection. This iconic piece made Damien Hirst world (in)famous with this piece that was commissioned by Charles Saatchi in 1991 and became a symbol of the "Young British Artists" of the 1990s. There's no trickery here, it really is a tiger shark embalmed in a tank of formaldehyde. I remember a lecturer describing it as everything that he loved and hated in Modern Art. An interesting subject matter with a bizarre title and makes you think How The Hell Did Someone Come Up With This and Why The Hell Would Someone Pay For It?
When Saatchi sold this in 2004, the shark was famously deteriorating so Hirst organised for another shark to be captured to replace the original shark (the pictures are of the original shark). Questions arose about whether it was therefore the *same* work. Hirst said that since he comes from a Conceptual background, the idea behind the work was more important. I normally hate that kind of art but I will say I like this because of when I saw this piece just before it left the Saatchi Collection. Being what I am and where I work, seeing things preserved jars are kinda everyday objects nor are the people around me particularly phased by them. But the reaction of the ordinary crowd to the piece - to see how people were alternately fascinated and repelled by the sight of a giant dead shark floating in formalin - now THAT was interesting. And in my mind it is that reaction that makes sense of that grandiose title.
When Saatchi sold this in 2004, the shark was famously deteriorating so Hirst organised for another shark to be captured to replace the original shark (the pictures are of the original shark). Questions arose about whether it was therefore the *same* work. Hirst said that since he comes from a Conceptual background, the idea behind the work was more important. I normally hate that kind of art but I will say I like this because of when I saw this piece just before it left the Saatchi Collection. Being what I am and where I work, seeing things preserved jars are kinda everyday objects nor are the people around me particularly phased by them. But the reaction of the ordinary crowd to the piece - to see how people were alternately fascinated and repelled by the sight of a giant dead shark floating in formalin - now THAT was interesting. And in my mind it is that reaction that makes sense of that grandiose title.
1 comment:
i think damian hirst is a cynic in the worst possible sense and has simply exploited the stupidity and greed of our times...he is very very lucky and smart to have done so...he is laughing all the way to the bank even now.
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