Conceptual to Renaissance Art
If I had money I would probably own:
Snowblind, 1998
£1,400
Ref: 9840
8′ x 6′
Mirror Bound Book
Signed by Artist
edition of 1000
Special artist-designed edition of Robert Sabbag’s Snowblind. The book has a slipcase, thick glass mirrors for front and back covers, a fake metal credit card as a bookmark, and a rolled up $100 bill concealed within a well cut into the middle pages, around which the text flows.
Damien Hirst describes this edition as ‘an art object with a story running through it’. The story is Robert Sabbag’s 1976 cult classic Snowblind, which recounts the tale of Zachary Swan, a middle-aged advertising executive turned drug smuggler. It was the first book to take a look inside the cocaine trade, and was described by Hunter S Thompson as ‘a flat-out ballbuster. It moves like a threshing machine with a fuel tank of ether.’ This limited edition is signed by Hirst, Sabbag, and Howard Marks, who wrote the introduction.
With Dead Head (Signed), 1991
£700 (£822.50 inc. VAT)
Ref: 9836
10′ x 8′
Black and White Resin Paper
Signed by Artist
edition of 1000
While Damien Hirst appears to be sharing a joke with this severed head, neither are laughing. As the artist later explained, ‘my eyes look like I’m laughing but actually I’m terrified. I’m expecting the eyes on that head to open, for the head to fly at my neck. I’m thinking “Quick! Quick! Get this shot over with”.’ With Dead Head was photographed while Hirst was a 16-year-old student. During a trip to a mortuary to study anatomy, the young artist came across the severed head of a cadaver and produced his own update on the traditional art-historical theme of the ‘memento mori’ (literally, ‘remember, you die’)
It’s true I like some of his early works…..
Yan Sham-Shackleton Online 