Damien Hirst heads are back in Manchester this week for part two of a controversial art exhibition by Richard Shields.
The man who presented a dissected cow as a work of art is getting a taste of his own medicine as a Manchester-based artist takes Damien Hirst’s head for his latest work.
Bring Me The Head of Damien Hirst Part II opens today (Friday July 19) and ends August 4.
The two shows are together part of a project called The Journey of The Artist And The Price Of The Ticket which is funded by Arts Council England.
While part one focussed on Shield’s examination of religion, banking, patronage and consumerism in the art world, the next section will investigate and subvert the role of assistants in creating iconic art.
Helen Bonar, officer for the Own Art scheme at Creative Sector Services, said: “The project got me interested in the notion of the artist assistant and the concept of it then and now.”
Shields explained that even though Hirst’s assistants are not named, their role and success is not undermined or diminished in any way.
He said: “Essentially the idea and the source are passed on though time. The assistants are executing his ideas.”
However, in contrast to Hirst’s attitude to his assistants, Shields has given his complete freedom in the design of the heads.
In Part two Shields has enrolled the help of art organisations, collectors, patrons and curators including Own Art, Axisweb and Cornerhouse Cinema.
Colette Norwood, Arts Manager for British Council in Northern Ireland, has titled her head Always digging.
She explained: “The piece is about working with artists, trying to develop projects, looking for funds and digging for bones.”
Owner of new Manchester art gallery Contemporary Six, Alex Rueben was inspired by the ideas and concepts Damien Hirst includes in his work, for example fear, medicine cabinets and pills.
His piece, Hirst Pill, traps Hirst’s head in a pill bottle and has clear links to Hirst’s own works.
The exhibition will be held at Unit 4B, Piccadilly Place for just over two weeks.
Picture courtesy of Bring Me The Head of Damien Hirst Part one via Facebook, with thanks
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