Damien Hurst (Damien Hirst) - one of the richest artists in the world, in September proved its steadfastness in the face of growing financial crisis. In a terrible month for the world economy, he was able to sell more than 200 of his works at the solo auction Beautiful Inside My Head Forever . But the crisis reached before that «businessman of art». More precisely, not to himself but to his employees. Although only whether the crisis in the case?

There is Damien Hurst - a man, but a Damien Hurst - Factory. If the Hurst-man, two hands, the Hurst-factory are many others. A head of one. This generates a head of ideas ( «But we could not make 100 pictures with wings of dead butterflies ?..»), and his hands immediately taken to make them come true. Recently, the artist decided that his hands too much and decided to cut off some of them.

The market is awash with such straight-run products Hirst - pictures, speed, pictures of butterflies, «medical studies» (lockers with pills), etc. It is their company and make Science Ltd. (the same «hands» the artist). In summer, Hurst suddenly announced that soon cease to produce mass work . Consequently, the need for those who will make them disappear.

Director Science Ltd. Tayrrell Jude (Jude Tyrrell) confirmed information about the impending dismissals, but refused to say how many people lose their jobs. According to anonymous sources, last Thursday 17 of 22 people involved in manufacturing of «health clinics», learned that their contracts would not be renewed. Three staff members, writing painting butterflies, will also be reduced. That is going to Hurst to dismiss about half of his assistants in London.

«As Damien said, he intends to cease production of certain types of products, so we will not enter into contracts for a further term. We can not ignore the current economic situation and how it may affect us ».

According to a source close to the Science, dismissals were planned long ago, but none of the staff did not know about it, for them the news of the reduction has become a complete surprise: «None of this is not even thinking, especially after Hurst to break the bank at auction Sotheby's [Beautiful Inside My Head Forever. - Ed. ]. Those employees, whose contract will not be renewed, yet can work in December, but I'm not sure that many will remain. They will need to quickly look for a new job ».

Employees working in the studio at Glengall Hirst Road in the London area Pekhem, producing paintings of butterflies and «medical offices», refused to talk about the dismissals. The woman in «herstovskoy» uniforms (red Stocklot with skull on his back) said that none of them do not know. Another staff member, from the studio in Newport Street in the vicinity of Lambert, said that she was forbidden to communicate with the press.

Annual salary for one person from those that constitute the «hands» Hurst, about 19 thousand pounds a year. Status of the artist, according to Sunday Times, estimated at 200 million pounds (though estimates were made before the September bidding). Now Hurst is the third place in the list of sponsors of the most expensive works of living artists . His most expensive work - «Golden Taurus» (10,3 million pounds) and «Sleeping Spring» (9,7 million pounds). In 2007, the platinum skull with diamonds work Hirst has been sold in the White Cube gallery for 50 million pounds. In a group of investors, kupivshey work, was himself an artist.

Hurst recently gave interview with The Independent, which stated, that is going to lower prices for their work .

material produced Julia Maksimov and

Source: guardian.co . uk , artinvestment.ru