For The Love Of God.
For The Love Of God.
For the Love of God is a sculpture by artist Damien Hirst produced in 2007. It consists of a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds, including a pear-shaped pink diamond located in the forehead of the skull. Costing £14 million to produce, the work went on display at the White Cube gallery in London at an asking price of £50 million, which would have been the highest price ever paid for a single work by a living artist.[1]
The human skull used as the base for the work, bought in a shop in Islington, is thought to be that of a European living between 1720 and 1810.[1]. The work's title was supposedly inspired by his mother, who once asked, "For the love of God, what are you going to do next?"[2]
8,601 flawless pavé diamonds, weighing in total 1,106.18 carats,[3] over a platinum cast, cover the entirety of the skull, with the exception of the original teeth of the skull. At the centre of the forehead lies a pear-shaped pink diamond, the centrepiece of the work. All diamonds used for the work were ethically sourced.[1]
On 1 June 2007, the work went on display in an illuminated glass case in a darkened room on the top floor of the White Cube gallery in St James's, London[3][1] with heavy security[4]. It was reported on 11 June 2007 that the singer George Michael and his partner Kenny Goss were interested in purchasing the piece for around £50 million.[5]
Spiritus Callidus 2 by John Lekay, 1993, crystal skull
Hirst stated the idea for the work came from a turquoise skull of Aztec origin at the British Museum.[1]
Artist John LeKay, a friend of Hirst's in the early 1990s, claims the work is based on a skull covered with crystals, which LeKay had made in 1993. LeKay said, "When I heard he was doing it, I felt like I was being punched in the gut. When I saw the image online, I felt that a part of me was in the piece. I was a bit shocked." [6]
A photo of the work thrown out with rubbish bags outside the White Cube gallery was a spoof by an artist "Laura" who created a replica skull with 6522 Swarovski crystals.[7]
I want one!