Damien Hirst work 'For the Love of God' and Mercantilism

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Damien Hirst's work 'For the Love of God' and Mercantilism

For the Love of God(2007) Damien Hirst

Research Damien Hirst's work For the Love of God (2007) in order to answer the following questions;

1. Describe the work, giving details of the form and materials. 

The skull is made from platinum it is a cast of a real human skull, the teeth are also from the original skull. It is encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds. On the large forehead sits a pear-shaped diamond that is light pink in colour.

2. What does the work mean? What is Damien Hirst communicating in the work?

Subject matter is death, most of Hirst art is based around death. The artist says:  "Death is such a heavy subject, it would be good to make something that laughed in the face of it.” 

In "For the Love of God", Hirst take the ultimate symbol of death and embellishes it with luxury. So to say to "hell with death".

3. How does Hirst's diamond encrusted skull relate to Mercantilism and to conspicuous consumption?

There was the controversial matter over blood diamonds, the piece of work might have the potential to bring about death in a literal way. "That’s when you stop laughing,” Hirst says. “You might have created something that people might die because of. 

This work relates to mercantilism, but of the obscene amount of money that was spent towards sourcing the materials for it. It definitely classifies as conspicuous consumption, its outrageous and over the top.

4. How much did the work cost, and how much was it sold for, and who bought it?

It cost around 16-20 million to make, and is worth about $100 million pounds.

5. What are some of the differing opinions of the journalists in the newspaper and blog articles?
   What did they think of the work?

People were quite critical of his work saying that it was excessive and extravagant.

A writer of a magazine has a more mixed review of "For the Love of God", he makes the comment on the uncomfortable proximity of art and commercialism. He raises the question why if Hirst's work “embodies the fact that art works have become the crown jewels of our age” that “its aesthetic value remains uncertain.

Others receive Hirst's exhibition very well. It fascinates them and intrigues them. Some reviews embrace the decadence of "For the Love of God". One writer says:" I can't remember another art work that so perfectly embodies the cynicism and ambivalence successful artists must feel towards those who promote and collect their work. Part of what interests me so much about this whole project is the fact that Hirst is the main person who will profit by its sale. Confusing, but fascinating."

The Telegraph, For the love of art and money, Richard Dormen,12:01AM BST 01 Jun 2007.

6. Based on your research, what is your opinion of the work, as an object or a work of art.

Damien Hurst's work "For the Love of God" is very glamorous and extravagant. I like how outrageous it is. It makes a bold statement and get people talking which is what I like about the piece its controversial.


Its also visually attractive, and I like the meaning that the artist is trying to convey, about death and how terrible it is, but we don't have to view it in that stereo typical way. Rather we can retaliate and look at it in a different light.