I don't know if its just me.. but I feel this is beyond absurd! $100 million for a diamond encrusted skull!? Does anyone understand the meaning behind this?
I personally find that pretty absurd. It must be all the diamonds that make it so expensive, but I really don't find the piece creative or intriguing. I guess some people must though if they are willing to pay $100 million for it...haha.
I really like this piece. It's by the British artist Damien Hirst, one of the most well known contemporary living artists today. Already in the canon of sorts. I view this as making an extremely bold statement on the concept and creation of value. The diamonds Hirst purchased to create the skull only cost 15 million, yet the value of a work of art adds 75 million in value. It is worth what someone is willing to pay. It is fascinating how the connection to a story or a person can charge a thing with value. Notoriety also brings with it a certain worth. Market value is determined oftentimes by how many people know about it. The more people that know, the higher the cost. Good subject for further discussion. There are lots of other pieces out there that make similar commentary. We should look at some.
It is true that the price tag on this skull is so hefty, it's almost unfathomable to me, but that said, I think that in some ways it's quite reasonable, and the expense (and that someone would pay that expense) definitely brings the work to a new level. Both diamonds and bones are precious resources and have been used as currency. That this work of art is so valuable, adds a certain anthropological aspect to the idea of value, I think. Furthermore, the function of a skull is to protect our brains. Some would say their minds are rather priceless... My last thought: the process of making something (the cost of labor) is expensive. A bracelet that cost the designer 6 dollars to make may sell for 20 in a boutique. This example is not so drastically different from the skull example. If the skull cost 15 million to begin with, I am not that surprised it sold for 100 million. Adhering so many jewels to the skull is a tedious process that requires careful attention. That labor, plus the cache behind the name Damien Hirst seem to explain some of the cost.
3 comments:
I personally find that pretty absurd. It must be all the diamonds that make it so expensive, but I really don't find the piece creative or intriguing. I guess some people must though if they are willing to pay $100 million for it...haha.
I really like this piece. It's by the British artist Damien Hirst, one of the most well known contemporary living artists today. Already in the canon of sorts. I view this as making an extremely bold statement on the concept and creation of value. The diamonds Hirst purchased to create the skull only cost 15 million, yet the value of a work of art adds 75 million in value. It is worth what someone is willing to pay. It is fascinating how the connection to a story or a person can charge a thing with value. Notoriety also brings with it a certain worth. Market value is determined oftentimes by how many people know about it. The more people that know, the higher the cost. Good subject for further discussion. There are lots of other pieces out there that make similar commentary. We should look at some.
It is true that the price tag on this skull is so hefty, it's almost unfathomable to me, but that said, I think that in some ways it's quite reasonable, and the expense (and that someone would pay that expense) definitely brings the work to a new level. Both diamonds and bones are precious resources and have been used as currency. That this work of art is so valuable, adds a certain anthropological aspect to the idea of value, I think. Furthermore, the function of a skull is to protect our brains. Some would say their minds are rather priceless... My last thought: the process of making something (the cost of labor) is expensive. A bracelet that cost the designer 6 dollars to make may sell for 20 in a boutique. This example is not so drastically different from the skull example. If the skull cost 15 million to begin with, I am not that surprised it sold for 100 million. Adhering so many jewels to the skull is a tedious process that requires careful attention. That labor, plus the cache behind the name Damien Hirst seem to explain some of the cost.
Post a Comment