Damien Hirst is one of the contemporary artists that fascinate me most. I particularly appreciate his ability to bring together different and apparently irreconcilable influences and styles in his work. It surprises me how he manages to address deep issues such as the fragility of life and the inevitability of death in an original and provocative way, with gimmicks that are sometimes controversial and often brilliant.
However, this time I don’t want to talk about the artist, but rather the collector. In fact, Damien Hirst owns one of the most notable private contemporary art collections in Europe. Death is the central theme to his Murderme collection, on display at the Pinacoteca Agnelli in Turin from November 10th.
The exhibition include works by some of the greatest artists of the twentieth century, from Picasso to Andy Warhol, from Angus Fairhurst to Francis Bacon: very diverse artists, though all of them seem to have left their mark on Hirst’s own work in some way.
This is an unmissable opportunity for contemporary art lovers. I personally know Ginevra Elkann, president of the gallery, and I rate her work highly. As such, I am certain that the exhibition will be curated with care and style. In the meantime, if anyone makes it Turin before I do I’ll be happy to hear your comments.