Artists explore their artistic expressions in art through unique opportunities to use different mediums in their expressionist ways. Precious stones are a fascinating medium that artists in the present and old ages have used. This essay explores how artists have employed precious stones as an art medium and form of expression to create artworks that have amassed immense material value. Specifically, this essay will look into Damien Hirst’s “For the Love of God” (Diamond Skull), exploring the historical and factual information around the inspiration of the art piece while also taking up a closer investigation on Jeff Koons’s “Balloon Dog,” and Anish Kapoor’s “Sky Mirror,” as other artists who have used precious stones as a medium of art. Exploring the formal elements and principles of composition present in these artworks, we can gain insight into the artists’ intentions, influences, and the broader themes of materiality and symbolism in contemporary art.
Damien Hirst’s “For the Love of God” (Diamond Skull)
Damien Hirst’s diamond, skull dubbed “For the Love of God,” is an iconic artwork perfectly befitting an art piece created with precious stones and carries a massive price tag. Unveiled in 2007, the artwork is a diamond-encrusted platinum casted skull adorned with 8,601 flawless diamonds, including a large pink diamond on the forehead. The artwork is estimated to be worth around £50 million (approximately $70 million) (Tate). While the artwork carries such a hefty price tag, Hirst’s intent behind this creation can be seen as an exploration of the themes of life, death, and the value we place on material possessions.
The “For the Love of God” diamond skull intertwines the themes of symbolism, consumerism, and materiality in its creation and representation. Hirst’s artwork, with its diamond-encrusted skull, embodies the opulence and extravagance associated with precious stones. Hirst’s diamond skull artwork draws inspiration from the memento mori tradition, which uses symbols and reminders of mortality to reflect on the fleeting nature of life (Tate Shots). The artwork presents the controversy of exploring life, death, and the value of material possessions in its creation. Hirst uses diamonds, one of the world’s most coveted and valuable materials, and challenges his audiences’ perception of luxury and wealth, intertwining it with the fickle transience of human existence.
Hirst’s choice of diamonds as the primary medium for this artwork is significant. Diamonds have long been associated with wealth, power, and beauty (CIBJO). Hirst creates a striking juxtaposition by using them to create a human skull bringing about the allure of precious stones and the inevitability of death. Contrastingly, the skull has been associated with and used universally as a symbol of mortality (Noonan et al.). Therefore, Hirst evokes his viewers’ thoughts as the diamond-crusted skull becomes a vessel for contemplation on the nature of life, the pursuit of material possessions, and the human desire for eternal youth and beauty. This invites the contemplation of the relationship between material wealth and the fragility of life. The opulence conveyed by using precious stones may highlight societal obsession with wealth and consumerism. Simultaneously, gemstones in these artworks can evoke a sense of transcendence and immortality, prompting viewers to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the pursuit of material possessions (Tate Shots). While critics have argued over the exorbitant cost of materials to make the skull, fetching a massively high cost, Hirst’s helps bring alive deeper debates of the value of life over wealth and luxury with the inevitability of death looming.
Exploring Other Artists and Their Precious Stone Creations
While Damien Hirst’s diamond skull is an exceptional example of an artwork created with precious stones and a massive price tag, it is worth exploring other artists who have also employed similar techniques and themes in their work. Jeff Koons and Anish Kapoor are two artists who have incorporated precious materials into their artworks, albeit in different ways.
Jeff Koons is known for his large-scale sculptures that often resemble mass-produced objects from popular culture. One notable example is his “Balloon Dog,” which is part of his “Celebration” series. While not created with precious stones, the reflective surfaces of Koons’ “Balloon Dog” is a stainless-steel sculpture coated in vibrant colors and resembling a twisted balloon animal, finished with vibrant translucent coatings, giving it a visually dazzling and luxurious appearance (Trancart).
This opulent aesthetic aligns with the themes of consumerism and materiality prevalent in contemporary society, with the sculpture’s reflective surface enticing viewers with its shiny allure, reflecting the desire for wealth and opulence often associated with consumerist culture. The symbolism of the twisted balloon animal evokes notions of childhood innocence and nostalgia, prompting contemplation on the commodification of playfulness and the appropriation of popular culture in consumer-driven art, an inspiration from Koon’s childhood (The Art Story). The sculpture’s reflective surface creates an interaction between the viewer, the artwork, and the surrounding environment. The Balloon Dog sculpture gained significant attention in 2013 when it was sold for a record-breaking $58.4 million, making it the most expensive work by a living artist at the time (Trancart).
Anish Kapoor’s artworks, such as his “Sky Mirror,” also explore the transformative qualities of materials, including stainless steel. “Sky Mirror” is a large concave mirror that reflects and distorts the surrounding environment, creating a visually captivating experience. While not specifically using precious stones, Kapoor’s use of polished stainless steel in his sculptures often results in a luxurious and reflective aesthetic that can be reminiscent of precious metals (Public Art Fund). The outdoor sculpture is valued at $13 million as it is located at AT&T Stadium.
The “Sky Mirror” artwork created a transcendence and immateriality, exploring the themes of materiality, consumerism, and symbolism in a different aspect. I believe that Kapoor explores the transient nature of objects and the impermanence of physicality through the incorporation of the reflective surface of the artwork by distorting the viewer’s perception of space and challenging the solidity of the material world, while helping the audience of viewers to transcend the material realm, reflecting on the intangible aspects of existence. The artwork symbolizes self-awareness and reflection, metaphorically invoking viewers to confront their values, desires, and beliefs and how they reflect on society encouraging people to question social, personal, and social constructs in how they shape their lives.
Conclusion
The integration of precious stones into artworks creates a captivating interplay between material value, symbolism, and artistic expression. Through the examination of Damien Hirst’s “For the Love of God” and other examples such as Jeff Koons’s “Balloon Dog,” and Anish Kapoor’s “Sky Mirror,” one can appreciate the diverse approaches artists employ when working with precious stones and valuable materials into art as a form of expression. These artworks offer unique perspectives on materiality, opulence, mortality, and transcendence, encouraging viewers to contemplate the complexities of contemporary art and its relationship with the world at large.
Works Cited
CIBJO. Diamonds Retailers’ Reference Guide CIBJO Retailers’ Reference Guide DIAMONDS. 2021, www.cibjo.org/rrg/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CIBJO%20RRG%20%28Diamonds%29.pdf.
Granberry, Michael. “Sculptor Anish Kapoor, Who Created ‘Sky Mirror’ for the Dallas Cowboys, Lashes out Angrily at the NRA.” Dallas News, Dallas News, 12 Mar. 2018, www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/visual-arts/2018/03/12/sculptor-anish-kapoor-who-created-sky-mirror-for-the-dallas-cowboys-lashes-out-angrily-at-the-nra/#:~:text=British%20artist%20Anish%20Kapoor%2C%20whose.
Noonan, Estelle, et al. “Return of the Memento Mori: Imaging Death in Public Health.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, vol. 106, no. 12, Sept. 2013, pp. 475–77, https://doi.org/10.1177/0141076813495828.
Public Art Fund. “Sky Mirror – Public Art Fund.” Www.publicartfund.org, Public Art Fund, 19 Sept. 2006, www.publicartfund.org/exhibitions/view/sky-mirror/.
Tate. “Damien Hirst: For the Love of God.” Tate, Tate, 11 Apr. 2012, www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/damien-hirst-2308/damien-hirst-love-god#:~:text=It%20represents%20the%20artist.
Tate Shots. “Damien Hirst – for the Love of God | TateShots – YouTube.” Www.youtube.com, TateShots, 4 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tXIYBFbUjs.
The Art Story. “Jeff Koons.” The Art Story, The Art Story, 2011, www.theartstory.org/artist/koons-jeff/.
Trancart, François-Xavier. “Jeff Koons and His Infamous Balloon Dog.” Artsper Magazine, 2 May 2022, blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/jeff-koons-and-his-infamous-balloon-dog/#:~:text=These%20objects%20are%20familiar%20to.
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