Damien Hirst and Birkin Bags

©Damien Hirst

Just read an article titled “Damien Hirst’s art ‘absurd’ and ‘tacky’, says critic Robert Hughes, in the London Telegraph. The article writes that if Hirsts‘ empire continues to grow at this rate that he will soon be worth more than auction house Sotheby’s. Now that’s an artist making money, he’s not looking for any federal grants. That’s for sure! Maybe he can buy an endangered species carcass and lather it up in gold next.

Yesterday i was listening to Q on CBC Radio 1, and host Jian Ghomeshi was interviewing Michael Tonello about his book Bringing Home the Birkin. A had no clue what a Birkin was but soon found out that it’s a bag that starts at around $9,000 and can go up to $34,000 for crocodile skin. WHAT! who would want crocodile skin?

So with Hirsts’ $200 million record-breaking sales at Sotheby’s with his show titled “Beautiful Inside My Head Forever” of animals in formaldehyde, apart from the cash what does he take away? Has Hirst’s art become just another commodity as the redicusly priced as Birzin bags? and I’m sure Hirst probably even has one!

— by Aislinn Leggett on September 18, 2008. Filed under Art

About Aislinn

Aislinn Leggett is a Montreal-based photographer. You can learn more about her work on her website and on her personal blog. You can also follow her Twitter @aislinnleggett and on Facebook.