Damien Hirst

von Ulrich Blanché

Damien Hirst constantly faces the accusation that he creates merely popular, salable, or easily consumable art. However, this accusation of "selling out" is closely linked to the great popularity that he enjoys. Discussions about the aesthetic value of art and the importance of consumer culture are incorporated into his works and highlight how the artist has been able to exemplify the consumer culture of our age. This study analyzes works from different periods of his oeuvre, such as the Natural History series, the Spot Paintings, the Diamond Skull, and Hirst's collaborations with Street Artist Banksy. They are examined in the context of materials, iconography, and history of ideas with regard to their framing of consumer culture. This is one of few books on Hirst not published by the artist himself or under his influence. In this academic study, Ulrich Blanché also gives a compact overview of the Young British Artists in London in the 1990s.