Part 2 of my translated dissertation will be out on March 5th, 2018:
Damien Hirst
Gallery Art in a Material World
ISBN 978-3-8288-4030-0
286 Pages, Paperback
Tectum, 2018
About the Book
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.
About this Edition
Street Artist Banksy and former Young British artist Damien Hirst are
two of the most popular representatives of British contemporary art.
Situated in a triangle of art, consumerism and pop culture their work is
among the most observed. A systematic academic study of their artistic
viewpoints and references to consumer culture has long been waited for,
and Ulrich Blanché is finally closing this gap: He examines Hirst’s and
Banksy‘s art against the background of the London art scene since 1980.
Blanché points out connections to Duchamp, Warhol and Koons, and
reflects on the role of the recipient, the meaning of location and,
especially, the references between art, consumer culture and marketing
in their pieces. This two volume edition is the translated and expanded
version of the authors dissertational thesis.
