translated by Giorgina Arcuri

Damien Hirst, ex symbol of the Young British Artists, still has the absolutely particular ability to draw to himself the attention not only of the art system, but of the whole world. Everyone will remember the scandal caused by “For the Love of God”. For this human skull covered with 8,601 diamonds for a total of 1,106 carats, a group of anonymous buyers forked out 73 and a half million euros, against a valuation of 18.8 million dollars.
“For the Love of God”, the now famous work by Hirst presented at the White Cube Gallery in London, has levelled out a new road and the artist intends to go along it right to the end. The diamond-studded skull was a scoop, even for the various philosophical digressions stirred up and impressed on the relation between death and life, love, immortality and art itself.
But all this is not enough for Damien Hirst. Indeed, he is making the public talk about him again with his typical irreverent spirit and with the mark of his recent devotion of precious materials.
On 26th June in Milan, in a prestigious jeweller’s on Via Torino, Hirst’s last effort will be presented, entitled “Love is love for Beauty and to Procreate and Give Birth in Beauty”. A 30 cm faceted glans, covered with 1,346 diamonds and supported by a 22-carat gold base, which ideally relates, in its name and concept – to the now famous skull presented in 2007 by Jay Jopling.
Even the value of this work comes close to very conspicuous amounts, given that the pink stone alone mounted in the front part is worth more than 2 million pounds. At the moment the sculpture is kept in the vault of bank in London, but it will arrive in Milan during these days to be displayed until 28th June in the jeweller’s shop window, where Hirst realized directly most of the work. After the region capital, the jewel will go to the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg. Strict agreements require it to stay on display in world museums for the next two years. But we will be talking about the leader of the YBAs (Young British Artists) around the middle of September, when Sotheby’s London will host a historical auction entirely dedicated to Damien Hirst’s works. It will be called “Beautiful Inside my Head Forever” and it will include an exceptional range of Hirst’s works realized during the last two years. From monumental sculptures made of formaldehyde, to cabinets and new paintings that develop the themes that are important for the English artist, such as butterflies, cancer cells and pills. This way Sotheby’s is preparing to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Freeze, the famous London exhibition that in 1988 opened the season of the YBAs and launched Hirst’s career.
“Beautiful Inside my Head Forever” follows the legendary “Pharmacy” auction, organized by Sotheby’s in October 2004. All the 168 lots auctioned by the London house were sold totalling 11,132,180 pounds. Very far from the overdone presale estimate equal to 3.5 – 4.9 million pounds.
Damien Hirst said: “After the success achieved by the auction sale “Pharmacy”, I immediately felt the desire to do another one. It is a democratic way to sell art and it seems a natural evolution for the market of contemporary art. Nevertheless, I absolutely want to continue working with my galleries. But this is different. The world is changing. And recently I increasingly need to see where this road leads to”.
Now four years later he is trying it again. How will the market react? The sign from the Larry Gagosian gallery is clear and synthetic: “We are used to expect the unexpected from Damien. He can definitely rely on our presence in the room with a paddle in our hands”.
The diamond element of the London auction that will be held next autumn (15th and 16th September) will be “The Golden Calf”, new monumental work by Hirst that consists in a formaldehyde bull, crowned by a circle of solid gold, and with its horns and clogs cast in 18 carat gold. Embedded in stainless steel, gold-plated and glass box. This unusual work, which marries the artist’s interest in science, religion, beauty and death, is estimated between 8 and 12 million pounds.
Cheyenne Westphal, Chairman of Contemporary Art for Sotheby’s Europe and Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s Senior International Specialist said: “Damien Hirst is the main artist of his generation. The extraordinary body of his new oeuvre that is about to be put on display by Sotheby’s has improved even more, if possible: ambitious, sophisticated and incredibly powerful”.