Damien Hirst

A contemporary artist who does sculpture and installation work is Damien Hirst. Hirst is a British artist who is an active member in YBA or Young British Artists. His work circles around the theme of death. Some of his most famous work the materials are simply a huge tank full of formaldehyde and a dead animal, including a shark, sheep, and cow. Some of the animals were even dissected before being put into the tank. Much of Hirst's work in very controversial and he is a controversial person as well after making some insensitive jokes about the 9/11 attacks against the twin towers in the United States. One piece of his, a rotting cow and bull, was pulled out of a show due to the inhumanity and unsanitary quality of the piece. Health officials banned the piece because they feared visiters might even throw up when they saw the piece. Hirst's other works include "For the Love of God", a platinum cast diamond encrusted skull that cost around $14 million dollars to make with an asking price of $50 million. If this piece were to ever sell during Hirst's life it would be the most expensive piece sold while the artist is still alive. The piece was inspired by Hirst's mother who asked him once, "For the Love of God what are you going to do next?" While I don't particularily like Hirst as a person, he has done well with his work and is successful with his sculpture and is known throughout the world; He is even the worlds richest living artist. He uses all materials from from dead bugs, pills, formaldehyde, and diamonds to make his sculptures