STRIPPED TO THE BONE
This is London, UK
Sept 8 2006
A man holds his own skin over his arm. He is brandishing a scalpel and
a pair of scissors, strongly suggesting he has just mutilated himself.
The 8ft bronze statue – Saint Bartholomew, Exquisite Pain – is the
latest work from Britain’s leading modern artist Damien Hirst.
He is joining forces with the Duke of Devonshire for a Sotheby’s
exhibition of modern sculpture at Chatsworth in Derbyshire.
St Bartholomew was one of the 12 apostles who, tradition has it,
was skinned alive in Armenia.
Hirst said of his latest creation: "St Bartholomew comes from woodcuts
and etchings I remember seeing when I was younger. As he was a martyr
who was skinned alive, he was often used by artists and doctors to
show human anatomy."
Hirst said his work was a homage to Tim Burton’s gothic 1990 film
Edward Scissorhands, starring Johnny Depp.
"I added the scissors because I thought Edward Scissorhands was in a
similarly tragic yet difficult position," he said. "It has the feel
of a rape of the innocents about it."
Hirst, who sprang to fame with art consisting of dead sheep and
electrocuted insects, caused controversy in June with his 13.5-tonne
bronze statue The Virgin Mother in the courtyard of the Royal Academy.
It depicted a pregnant woman with her skin cut away to reveal the
foetus.
Francis Outred, Sotheby’s specialist for the Chatsworth exhibition,
said of Hirst’s latest creation: "It is an incredible privilege to
be able to present this breathtaking new sculpture for the first time.
"Its beautiful classical lines suit the stunning natural landscape
of Chatsworth perfectly."
Also in the exhibition, which runs from today until 27 October, are
works by Henry Moore, Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley. All the works
will be for sale.