Damien Hirst's Requiem

Last month saw the debut of Damien Hirst's 'Requiem' which opened at the PinchukArtCentre in Kiev. Damien chose the venue because of the Russia's growing interest in contemporary art. The event was organized by Damien and long time supporter Victor Pinchuk. The exhibit showcases over 100 pieces of Damien's work spanning from 1990 to 2008 and will run from April 25th to September 20th.

Critics have called the event a spectacle because of the timing. We are currently experiencing a global economic crisis so any show of money and power understandably is met with resentment. However, in my mind this event is being misinterpreted. Requiem is a rare opportunity for artists and art lovers to come together and study two decades of artistic genius. And although some of us may disagree with how Damien has chosen to express his genius no one can dispute the fact that he is a brilliant artist.

The event also serves as evidence that even during such a devasting financial downturn artists can continue to thrive. And yet, it gives us the opportunity to get back to our roots and paint from the heart. Damien was interviewed recently by Reuters during which he expressed the following sentiment;

"People are not buying art in the way that they were. But maybe that's a good thing. The reason why you make art is not financial... It's not about how much something is worth or how much it costs, it's about whether it's good or not."

To read the article in its entirely please visit Reuters UK.