Yeah, We killed the golden goose
I read recently of someone having a pop at Damien Hirst because he is laying off staff, the same article refers to “Sliced up cows”, it states how much money Hirst has supposedly to have made from such, another article tells us about his plans for his own gallery in Hyde park.
My take on all this is as follows, Multinationals with very deep pockets are always laying people off, no one can, or wants to “Keep paying” when the in coming tide slows down, 325.000 pounds a year, this is direct salaries, you have to add on the SS, income tax and other relevant expenditure, eventually you arrive at about 500.000 pounds a year, who would not want to make this saving? I would for one, lets not think that it is all so easy, employing 20 people is responsibility enough, and it turns out they will be paid up until the end of the year anyhow.
Damien Hirst with one of his art creations.
If Hirst is lucky enough to place the winning bid with the parks commission, or who ever else does, and when the new gallery does go ahead it will mean work, for lots of some ones, from the janitor to the manager, plus all the folk involved in its refurbishment, a lot of money out there on the economy, there has also been a lot of cribbing about Anish Kapoors “Orbit”, again imagine the work involved on getting that one together, its all about getting it, and spending it, I think its great that Hirst can come up with his sharks, etc, I think its great that Tracy Emin can sell her bed, I think its fabulous that there are people willing to fork out cash for the like, they buy it after the artists have put it together, its all good for the artistic economy, the money goes around and a whole lot of people enjoy the spin offs, so good luck you guys, keep it up, its good for us all, and most of all its good for Art.
As a side note to the above I want to say that I have been lucky enough to collaborate with a great sculptor off, and on for many years, what started as my self giving a helping hand grew into seven or eight helpers, or “Elves”, lots of talking, lots of beer drinking, and little production, yeah, we killed the golden goose, I have lived it, and seen it first hand, its great whilst it lasts, but it dont last forever, what my personal experience left me was my gratitude to the patron artist, the knowledge I gained, and the friendship that was built.
Christopher Stone
Ibiza,June 2010
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