PRUNING TREES 5

Dr Franklyn: ‘ Wooo, you’ve got it – the title is typical of a new barbarian who is still a little nervous!!! But wants it all his own way. Oh yes, there are always obscenely overwrought things to be made for the new Tsars, for their companies and companions, and the point is this; except for those who buy ‘masterworks’ to put into bank vaults, Hirst’s skull object is a homage to Them, it speaks of no ones wealth, of no ones mind of purpose, of no other ideas but Theirs, and crucially for a rich boys toy, its worth must be held within its materials, then it’s completely their game, not yours or mine, or Art’s - in the end the diamond and precious metals market are the only arbiters of its value.’
Me: ‘Wow - I’m reminded of Michael Jackson in that documentary a few years ago on a shopping trip for obje’d’art in some Las Vegas mall… why should anyone care, it’s all voyeurism – and as someone else said in a review - if Hirst's work is supposed to mirror society that is not its strength but its weakness, so If it’s satire, give me political cartoonists any day.
Dr Franklyn ‘ Yes, me too – interestingly there’s an answering satire by The Polish artist Peter Fuss called ‘For the Laugh of God’ his look alike skull encrusted with fake diamonds is a mild £1000 and prints at a £1 or so, I think I’ll get a couple actually – Hirst’s prints meanwhile, range from £900 to £10,000 depending on size and edition….no contest – it’s interesting that if ideas are transferable – invested meaning must be too.’