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+ Questions for the class Is Damien Hirst really an out-of-the-box artist? What are the most predominant elements of art in the work of Damien Hirst? What, in your opinion, is its significance? What do you interpret out of Hirst’s artwork?

+ Life of Damien Hirst But the answer to how to live is to stop thinking about it. And just to live. But you're doing that anyway. However you intellectualize it, you still just live. - Damien Hirst

+ Went to Leeds School of Art for a foundation course. Went to Goldsmiths College for the BA Fine Arts Course. Graduated in Born in Bristol, England in 1965 Brought up in Leeds.

+ While still a student, Damien Hirst devised and organized an exhibition called “Freeze” Damien’s pieces of art were displayed along with 16 of his fellow students. Charles Saatchi began to collect Hirst’s work after this exhibition. He showed great growth in art when he switched from installation art to paintings. The info of his life is written like a data being told, I need your personal views and reactions as well.

+ Personal Views I think Damien Hirst has proved to be a very out-of-the-box artist from the very start. Despite the fact that his works are much more different from his fellow installation artists, in my opinion he hasn’t really explored the world of installations well. His theme is always the same, his tinge of sadism is always apparent. There is absolutely no striking difference! In order to try something different (paintings), he should have accomplished what he started off with (installations) to its full potential. I am definitely a fan of his works after this assignment. But I wonder if he really is as novel as he is credited to be…

+ Work of Damien Hirst

+ Predominant theme: death Damien Hirst’s theme has often been considered to be the transience of mortality. I think this theme is very thought provoking and one everyone can connect to it because it is not something that is restricted to class, nationality, age or the educated. Death is something that everyone has witnessed or has been close to at one point in their lives. Hirst has modified his approach to this theme with wit, flamboyance, verve and originality. His idea to use animals to display his theme is, although unethical, is very different. His witty titles for his work are the underlying meaning of his work. His most famous works include The Natural History series; in which dead animals are presented in a grotesque manner. The words are not entirely yours you've e picked up sentences and put theme here, I cannot see if you have actually understood anything here

+ For The Love Of God Made using a real, human skull Used 8,601 diamonds. The idea of the title came about when Hirst’s mother said to him “For the love of God, what are you going to do next?” The title is meant to be iconic and ironic. Conveys the transience of life and the Archeology inspiring his art? Hirst maintains that the diamonds are insignificant Use of real, human skull seems very sadistic for a man who’s so influenced by the Bible. I like the annotations u’ve made to explain his work, after writing about the work you need to write your personal reaction to his work, your reaction too the artist was visible when you were talking about him in class, that should show in this as well

+ Natural History Series: Away From The Flock Corpses of a sheep a tank with formaldehyde. He transforms an organism- which is lifeless- and he retrieves its lost vitality. He forces us to focus on the sheep, an animal that been provides us with food and warmth, transforming it from the mundane into something “special”. ‘Away from the Flock’, is a term associated with religion, specifically Christianity. The sheep seems oblivious to its fate and appears to be prancing with life.

+ No Love Lost (Painting) Diamond shapes and lines makes it interesting Hue: Blue-black Intensity: Varies Value: A combination This background is very boring for an artist like Hirst. Although, it intensifies the skull in the middle. Gives a strange feeling of electric currents Positive spaces in the center, and negative near the borders The skull is in the center, so that balances the painting out a little. Asymmetrical because of the sudden, yellow color Focal point: skull Contrasts with the background colors I think it’s an interesting painting with striking elements of art. But seriously, Hirst, enough with the skulls and the theme of death!

+ Personal view Although, I don’t really understand what provoked him into using themes like death, mortality and phases of life. Because I don’t understand the reason he chooses topics of this sort, I don’t fully appreciate his work. But at the end of the day, it is an artist’s intention and the audience’s perception. In other words, what matters most is what I interpret from his art and how I connect with it. And although I cannot thoroughly understand how Hirst wants his art to state, I have formed an opinion of his work. As an animal lover, I am shocked to see animals being used in such a manner; and I condemn his need to use them. But as an artist, I commend his originality. What leaves me wondering about his artwork is that it is always so death centric, which proves that the author is constantly pondering over it, but he chooses to portray a topic so serene in a very mocking way.

+ Video link (till 7:10)

+ Bibliography encrusted-skull-jeweled-skulls-in-archaeology/ encrusted-skull-jeweled-skulls-in-archaeology/ z/H/6043/artistName/Damien%20Hirst/recordId/ z/H/6043/artistName/Damien%20Hirst/recordId/87212 Accessed: 2 November 2011