For part of the morning I’ve been participating in a conversation facilitated by Matthew Collings facebook page about Damian Hirst and the critical thought (or should I say lack of critical thought) around the current show by Damian Hirst at every Gagosian Gallery worldwide. It’s an audacious thing – to have a show in 11 galleries around the world at once, it is even more so to have 11 shows worldwide showing only one type of artwork from one artist. And, to be frank about it, there are very few artists that would be able to hold up to the spotlight and criticisms that would come from such an event.
The initial comment was about the tone of criticism and it’s lack of analysis toward the work. I think many of the reviewers tend to write for the “front of the house” that is, the audience that follows art more aggressively than others. This may account for the lack of analysis of the work. In a way saying “Hirst” is almost like saying “Warhol”, by the time you are done with that one word, most people have a decision in place about the work before encountering the work. Clearly the name is a highly loaded word. However it is only loaded in the speaker and listeners mind and is neither contextualized nor visualized.
I agree with the initial comment about criticism without analysis. I think it’s a serious problem. Right now, the art community is finding the critic only useful to use as a sales tool. It seems that we have been willing to get rid of critical thought for a voice that supports the cost (not value) of the art made today.
When we breakdown the highest levels of the “art world” there are really four major groups of people; artists, dealers, viewers, and critics. Are we really ready to cut out one fourth of our community?
As for Hirst – the personality (or perceived personality) is so big it’s hard to get it away from the art. I find the spot paintings interesting, in a way they are like an episode of Seinfeld – all the concepts and loose ends are tied up and presented as a whole. It seems the biggest complaint is that Hirst has been successful with his artwork. I don’t blame Hirst for making money with his art, I am however bored by the conversation about his wealth when it comes to his work, it’s a valueless canard.
“DAMIEN HIRST: The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011″ Installation view, Photo by Rob McKeever