Contemporary Art: 10 Quotes by Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst Quotes
“Great art – or good art – is when you look at it, experience it and it stays in your mind. I don’t think conceptual art and traditional art are all that different.”
“People don’t like contemporary art, but all art starts life as contemporary – I can’t really see a difference.”
“Making art, good art, is always a struggle. It can make you happy when you pull it off. There’s no better feeling. It’s beauteous. But it’s always about hard work and inspiration and sweat and good ideas.”
“The difference between art about death and actual death is that one’s a celebration and the other’s a dull fact.”
“A painting probably is the most shocking increase in value, from what it costs to make to what you sell it for.”
“I think art is good at looking back and looking forward. I don’t think art is good at looking head-on. At the end of the day, people are more important than paintings.”
“I remember when you used to have your profession on your passport and I always thought that being a painter was the best one to be, because my heroes were Goya and Francis Bacon.”
“People always say that my work is sensational or shocking but there are truly shocking things you could do, and my sculptures don’t go anywhere near that.”
“I have always been aware that you have to get people listening before you can change their minds. Any artist’s big fear is being ignored, so if you get debate, that’s great.”
“That’s the great thing about art. Anybody can do it if you just believe. With practice, you can make great paintings.”