Damien Hirst's Venice show accused of copying historical and contemporary works
Marco Senaldi criticizes Damien Hirst's 2017 exhibition "Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable" at Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi in Venice, arguing that many works are derivative. He notes that a golden ball sculpture atop Punta della Dogana is actually by 17th-century Swiss-Italian sculptor Bernardo Falconi, not Hirst. Senaldi also points out that Hirst's mouse-with-ear piece resembles a 2003 work by Italian artist Leonardo Pivi, and that Hirst had previously been accused of copying a painting by Michael Luther in 2009. The article questions the originality of Hirst's iconography and the value of the £50 million project.
Key facts
- Damien Hirst's exhibition 'Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable' was held in 2017 at Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi in Venice.
- A golden ball sculpture atop Punta della Dogana is by Bernardo Falconi, a 17th-century Swiss-Italian sculptor.
- Hirst's mouse-with-ear sculpture is similar to a 2003 work by Leonardo Pivi.
- In 2009, painter Michael Luther accused Hirst of copying his painting based on a Berliner Zeitung cover photo.
- The exhibition featured over 200 works.
- The project reportedly cost £50 million.
- Marco Senaldi is a philosopher, curator, and contemporary art theorist.
- The article was published on Artribune Magazine #41.
Entities
Artists
- Damien Hirst
- Bernardo Falconi
- Leonardo Pivi
- Michael Luther
- Jeff Koons
- Max Ernst
- Caravaggio
Institutions
- Punta della Dogana
- Palazzo Grassi
- Artribune
- Berliner Zeitung
Locations
- Venice
- Italy