23 November 2008

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Art News Blog

Thirsty for Hirsty

I know I probably mention Damien Hirst more than any other artist, but it's because he makes more news than any other artist. The man is a marketing genius.

Hirst says Art is too Expensive..
Damien Hirst has a personal fortune of around £200 million and is capable of pulling off his own $200 million auction, but he thinks art is too expensive. He spoke the Independent and said "I think it's quite good [adjustment in art market prices] because it became unreal ... You start to think you are touched by God. I have always thought that art is worth what the next guy is prepared to pay."

Those with a shed full of Damien Hirst works won't like the reality of the next quote by Hirst from the Independent article.. "If I want to sell new work, I'll price it lower. If people have got less money, you can either just shut your door and say, 'Screw everybody', or I can wait until everyone can afford my work or price it cheaper."

The gloom was prompted after "Beautiful Artemis Thor Neptune Odin Delusional Sapphic Inspirational Hypnosis Painting" failed to sell at auction for $3 to 4 million. Hirst said that the current seller paid him half the current asking price less than a year ago, so it hardly sounds like a meltdown.

Art+ Auction Looks back at the Great Hirst Sale
From the Art+Auction report.. "London dealer Helly Nahmad, although an early supporter of Hirst, refrained from bidding at the evening sale. “I prefer to be in something that has a lot less risk,” he says. Nahmad feels the entire sale was indicative of the art-market “moving closer to a business model.” He characterizes Hirst as being “between a superstar artist and a luxury brand” and terms investing in his latest oeuvre as “much easier than buying a modern picture— all you need to know are two or three facts: It’s Hirst, it’s Sotheby’s, it’s luxury. . . . You could have a Hirst company as large as LVMH." Continue Reading the article..

Damien Hirst Stocking Fillers
If you don't think the sky is falling and you have a spare 50 thousand pounds this christmas, you might want to visit the Damien Hirst shop for some plastic skulls painted with house paint. Other Criteria has a variety of Hirst skull options for sale.

Damien Hirst Skull

£50,000 + VAT
Hallucinatory Head (OC 6158) Damien Hirst
210 x 140 x 140 mm
Household gloss on plastic skull
2008

Or if you like your skulls with a lower jaw and eyes..
Damien Hirst Skull

£50,000 + VAT
Transcendent Head (OC 6136) Damien Hirst
210 x 140 x 140 mm
Household gloss on plastic skull
2008

Damien Hirst the Art Director - Sienna Miller Video
Mr Hirst has also become the art director of a music video starring actress Sienna Miller. "See the Light" is a song by The Hours music group. Sienna Miller pushes her way through a very Hirst-like landscape..
The Hours - See The Light

That's all from the Damien Hirst News Blog today! ;-)
>> Damien Hirst News

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

LIFE is teaming up with Google to create a massive online database of more than 10 million photos from the 1750s through to today. It is a work in progress but there is already an impressive collection of photographs online now.

"For 70 years, LIFE has been about one thing, and that’s the power of photography to tell a story," says Andy Blau, LIFE’s President. "LIFE will now reach a broader audience and engage them online with the incredible depth and breadth of the LIFE Photo Archive from serious world events, to Hollywood celebrities to whimsical photographs." Time Inc. EVP, John Squires adds: "We’re delighted Google recognized the rich value of our photo archive and worked with us to bring it to millions of consumers. Consistent with the launch of the TIME Archive, PEOPLE Archive and the SI Vault, this initiative continues our efforts to build valuable new revenue opportunities from our rich heritage."

The LIFE photography archive is hosted here by Google. There's an excellent collection of Pablo Picasso pictures here. The Google Image Search is free for personal and research purposes. Copyright and ownership of all images will remain with Time Inc.

Update: Searching for "Artists at Work" brings up an interesting set of images, with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Georges Rouault, Fernand Leger, Marc Chagall, Alice Neel and more coming up.
>> Photography News

Damien Hirst Levi's Jeans and T-shirts

I love and hate Damien Hirst in equal portions. I love the marketing genius that the man is, but I also dislike him for similar reasons as he has made art all about business. Only a (starving) fool would ignore business altogether in art, but I still find myself clinging to a romantic art that is above money and press releases. There's all kinds of art though, so I probably admire Hirst more than I dislike him.

The British artist is now teaming up with Levi's Jeans to do a limited edition collection of t-shirts and jeans. The Damien Hirst X Levi’s® collection uses well known Hirst themes like spots, skulls, butterflies and his spin paintings. The prices start at £55 for tees and £150 for jeans, so now everyone can own a Damien Hirst.. kind of.

Damien Hirst Clothing Collection Levis

Here's a short Damien Hirst interview about the Levi's collection..

1. How did the original collaboration between you and Levi’s® come about?

I’ve always worn Levi's® and I saw a collection that (designer) Adrian Nyman made using Warhol's art and I loved it so much I bought the whole collection. Adrian heard about it and contacted me and asked if I’d like to work with him, the Warhol estate and Levi’s®, and of course I jumped at the chance.

2. Why did you decide to partner with Levi’s® to create another Damien Hirst X Levi’s® limited-edition collection?

Because I really enjoyed the experience of working with Adrian and Levi’s® and loved the clothes.

3. What was your inspiration for this collection?

I loved the idea of art you can wear.

4. What was the inspiration and meaning behind your iconic imagery of the skull, spots and butterfly?

I live in Mexico and I love the way they celebrate all the bad and good aspects of life there. In life we are here for a good time, not a long time and I hope the imagery communicates that.

Damien Hirst X Levi’s® collection

5. Do you have any favourite pieces or items in the collection you are most excited about?

I love it all.

6. Have you ever provided design inspiration for a clothing collection before?

I painted heavy metal album covers on schoolmate’s denim jackets when I was at school.

7. Have you seen people out and about in pieces from your Damien Hirst X Levi’s® limited-edition collection? Do you like the idea that people can now "wear your art"?

I tried to sign someone’s t shirt I saw in a club but they wouldn’t let me because they didn’t believe I was Damien Hirst, funny huh?

8. What similarities or differences do you find between expressing yourself creatively through art versus fashion?

I don’t see a difference really, anything done well is art, but this way a lot of people get to own my stuff and in a not too precious way.

>> Damien Hirst News

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Profile

Website: www.schatzblackrose.com

College / University: Curtin University

Member type: Artist

If you're an artist, what kind of art do you make?: Conceptual, Installation, Painting, Performance, Photography

I am...: I was born and grew up in Arbon, Switzerland but now live in Australia. I spend my time making and studying art as well as traveling with my wife to international schools worldwide. We offer art and storytelling projects that fosters art as a tool in education and cross cultural understanding.

About my artwork: My art embodies and reflects my life’s purpose; the quest to find meaning. As a migrant, I am fascinated with the notion of journey, literally, metaphorically and spiritually. My art expresses my perception of Life’s journey. An ongoing interest in philosophy, history and mythology informs my interpretation and celebration of that journey. I divide my time between Australia and Switzerland.

Artists I like: I discover new artists all the time but here are some whose work I admire: Ai Weiwei, Feng Feng, Richard Serra, Gordon Bennet, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Joseph Beuys, de Kooning, Tracy Emmin and many more ...

Interests: Reading, Travel, Photography, Art history, Philosophy, Chillies, Cooking and Go (very bad at it!)

What exhibitions are good at the moment?: agent-provocateur

http://www.agent-provocateur.ch/index.php

The centre of the artworld is: nowhere and everywhere

My artreview.com URL:
http://www.artreview.com/profile/RomanSchatz
You can use this URL in your email, on your website, or on your facebook profile.

This performance involves the
writing of a letter to my Dad.
It's about memory, communication and loss.

Roman Schatz's Artworks

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At 8:54pm on 29th August 2008, Luke Gilliam said…: Hi Roman,

I have just taken a look at some of your new pieces. I find some of the symbols very very interesting. Pleae contact me if you are online - I would like to ask you about these pieces,

best, (m) Luke ::]]

At 2:42pm on 13th July 2008, Paul matosic said…: Just left you a message which ended up on my page rather than here. i will get the hang of this technology stuff one day.

At 8:03am on 8th July 2008, jan lewin-cadogan said…: i meant a personal connection

At 7:46am on 8th July 2008, jan lewin-cadogan said…: I connected to your video! (but I cant do it)

At 10:09pm on 5th July 2008, Xiaoman said…: Hey Roman,thanks for the comments.It is good to know you like the works from Ai Weiwei as well.

At 11:18am on 5th July 2008, Gary said…: Hi Roman,
thanks for your comments! I see u originally came from Switzerland. My farther is swiss also and he moved to australia when he was 20. If your wondering about my last name doesnt sound very swiss it is because he changed it from Reif to Reef.;) Like your work very nice :)

At 12:48pm on 4th July 2008, Yukiko Miyauchi said…: Hi Roman,
Many thanks for looking at my works and selecting "Reverence" !
How interesting to know about your art -
Yukiko

At 9:22am on 2nd July 2008, jan lewin-cadogan said…: I really was captivated by your new image, no 2, a moment in time, a pause, love it! jan

At 10:52pm on 30th June 2008, mike hinc said…: Great photographic composition. I liked your pain too. Your figurework had something of Hilton's fluency. Thanks.