Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst
Damien Steven Hirstis an English artist, entrepreneur, and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists, who dominated the art scene in the UK during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly the United Kingdom's richest living artist, with his wealth valued at £215m in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List. During the 1990s his career was closely linked with the collector Charles Saatchi, but increasing frictions came to...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth7 June 1965
It's ridiculous what I do. I can't believe in it - but I have to.
I used to believe I was going to live forever. And then you suddenly become aware that you're not.
I think I like big issues, but I don't believe in God or religion.
I believe all painting and art should be uplifting for the viewer.
I can't understand why most people believe in medicine and don't believe in art, without questioning either.
No, I don't believe in genius. I believe in freedom. I think anyone can do it. Anyone can be like Rembrandt.
My Mum brought me up to believe that if you look after the pennies then the pounds look after themselves, and I could never do it.
I've seen things that are 200 years old, in formaldehyde.
To me it's like, this is the kind of world I live in and these are all the people who are artists who are doing what I'm doing, but in their own way.
I think if you've made it, why not name it?
I thought it might be nice to have a little line on the side going, just in case, of doing famous people's pets for them, in formaldehyde.
We have had some animal rights things but they all get the facts wrong so they have to go away looking a bit stupid.
One thing leads to another with my work.
She wasn't much to look at, but she was great to dance with.