«Hits» Demiena Hirst at Sotheby's
ARTinvestment.RU   01 августа 2008

Auction House disclosed details of the upcoming September auction of the solo-famous «Young British Artists»

As reported in ARTinvestment.RU, 15-16 September in London solo auction itself, perhaps, a famous artist-generation 40-year-old Demiena Hurst (Damien Hirst) . Trades prepares auction house Sotheby's, which the 43-year-old Hurst has long been associated gentle attitude: in 2004, Sotheby's made a «total sale» property fashionable restaurant Pharmacy, owned by the artist. With a hammer then everything went - from ashtrays, wallpaper and chairs to the sculpture decorating the interior. Tenders have been incredibly successful: for each subject was grave, and fight the overall result was 11.1 million pounds (twice the estimeyta). At Sotheby's sold the most expensive work of the artist - installation «Sleeping Spring» .

Estimeyt the September auction of 65 million pounds, but organizers said that the former leader of the movement «Young British Artists» by force to collect and 90 million. Tenders called Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, but more accurately be called their Greatest Hits. At Sotheby's will be presented to all, for that Hirst so loved: and stuffed animals in formaldehyde, and pictures of peas, and collages from the wings of butterflies, and skulls, and gold with diamonds. All the solemn, beautiful and, not least, direct «of the plant». Absolutely all the lots were created in the past two years. Most works have been carried out not by Hurst and assistants, which the artist is an entire factory. Hurst took care of that work presented at the auction were not available only a Millionaire: some of the lots are very «modest» estimeyt 15-20 thousand pounds. A more likely, of course, «Company» installation with dead animals. At auction it would be possible to buy a zebra, unicorn (zherebenka with rubber horn), and even a shark. Installation «The physical impossibility of death in the minds of living» (popularly known as «a shark in formaldehyde»), without a doubt the most famous work of Hurst. In 2004 it bought the «King of hedge funds» Steven Cohen (Steven Cohen). Last year, sharks start to decompose, and Cohen, the artist made a new one. A «sotbisovskaya» shark experts estimated 4-6 million pounds.

But the absolute top-lot auction - «Golden Taurus», estimeyt which amounts to 8-12 million pounds. This is a stuffed bull culminated disk made of pure gold, with golden horns and hoofs of the same - nothing else, as recreated idol, revered by the Israelis before he condemned them for idolopoklonnichestvo. Christian symbols, of course, one of the most important part of the aesthetics Hirst. Another «Catholic» work entitled «Preneporochnoe heart - lost», is a byche heart, pierced with a knife.

All those less interested in the art market, it is known that Hirst works at auction are valued very highly. Last year, his «Sleeping Spring» pobyla even some time in first place in the list of the most expensive works of living artists, yet it is not there skinulo «limbo heart» Jeff Koons (Jeff Koons). Auctions - home building yard for Hirst's reputation. He is a pioneer in this new tradition in the relationship between the artist and the auction house. As we have seen, most of which will be sold in September at Sotheby's, completely new, that is, they come to public auction, bypassing the gallery. Hurst overturn the old scheme under which the artist first delivers a new work of art-dealer, and at least a few years, it came in various private collections, comes up for auction. Damien Hurst has chosen a new strategy for several reasons. He wants to «communicate» with buyers directly, unmediated by gallery owners, who may othvatit 40 and even 60 per cent of the value of work. The artist talks about the democratization of the art market: the sale of earlier works of art carried out «in the shade», the gallery sold the work of «their» collectors, without revealing the amount of transactions. And at Sotheby's, any person accumulated 20 thousand pounds, could easily come and fight for an absolutely new creation a famous artist. Is not this a dream? In addition, a solo auction of Hirst gives a chance to get it working collectors from China, India and Russia. Buyers-millionaires from the East represent a powerful force on the art market (some purchase of Roman Abramovich which are), but the international level of galleries that sell the most expensive work of contemporary artists in their countries is almost non-existent. In short, the goal of the artist's most noble. But «the new paradigm» hit the gallery and not only them!

Dealers Hirst Gagosyan Larry (Larry Gagosian) and Jay Dzhopling (Jay Jopling), reluctantly, gave the benediction at the auction, but, according to people close to them, feeling them (as well as many other gallery owners whose «wards» can take the example of Hirst) skrebut most natural cats. One collector, maintains close relations with Gagosyanom, and Dzhoplingom, said in an interview with The Art Newspaper: «I love the work Demiena, but the way he comes with his business partners - insulting and selfish». Many art dealers known as a solo auction of Hirst «nightmarish precedent». Professionals recall the statement made in February this year, artist and expert in financial market Horeysho Holtsbeynom (Horatio Holzbein): in it he predicted that in the future be able to survive only the gallery, which will be owned by auction houses. And then get «naked Market», incapable, unlike galleries give due attention to «intellectual filling» works, giving them the proper context.

Some critics suggest that Damien Hurst will go down in history by creating the image of the artist, far from any aesthetic. According to them, not only of his work by themselves, but even they do not have any concept of meaning. Main «performance» by this artist - the desire to market the arts to its knees and force him to play for him, Hirst, rules. According to art dealer and collector David Mugraby (David Mugrabi), British artist is now doing the revolution of the same magnitude as Marcel Duchamp (Marcel Duchamp), nearly a century ago demonstrated at the urinal, and forced to consider his art. But ... whether Hurst forever keep afloat, while remaining the most successful businessman of art? The popularity of his art, and may fall. At a recent show of works of modern art ArtBasel many of his works remained unsold.

Whether justified fears gallery, which is said Mugraby strives «kill» Hurst? This will show your future. And now we'll talk about the «other side» activities planned Hurst and Sotheby's. It should be noted that a British artist is actively involved in charity work. At the September solo auction of four paintings will be exhibited, the funds from the sale of which will be used in institutions such as children's hospice Demelza House, Fund for support of young musicians of the late The Clash singer Joe Strammera (Joe Strummer), charitable organization Kids Company and Survival International. In addition, the bidding shown picture of Bill Gates (Bill Gates), lyubuyuschegosya on the famous shark Hirst. Funds from the sale of works will be on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). In February this year, Hurst has already participated in the very successful charity auction in history, which was organized by the New York office of Sotheby's. All funds received for this bid, and went to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. At the auction, which was called «(RED)», were also exhibited the work of other famous artists such as Anish Kapoor (Anish Kapoor), Marc Quinn (Marc Quinn), Takashi Murakami (Takashi Murakami) and Banks (Banksy).

Solo Hirst auction dedicated to the critical date - twentieth anniversary of Freeze, where «Young British Artists» first declared itself. In August, the London exhibition opens Freeze 20, which will display sculptures, installations and paintings by Hirst and other protagonists of motion - Sarah Lucas (Sarah Lucas), Matt Kollishou (Mat Collishaw), Gary Hume (Gary Hume), Fayony Ray (Fiona Rae) . And to see works by Hirst, which will go under the hammer at a personal auction will be from 5 to 15 September.

Julia Maksimova

Sources: www.artdaily.org , www.guardian.co.uk , www.timesonline.co.uk , www.theartnewspaper.com , artinvestment.ru