New revelations in Damien Hirst artwork dating controversy.

New revelations in Damien Hirst artwork dating controversy.

New revelations in Damien Hirst artwork dating controversy.

Damien Hirst, a renowned British artist known for his bold and often controversial art, is once again in the spotlight. This time, it concerns allegations that he misdated thousands of his artworks, according to a recent investigation by The Guardian.

The Misdating Allegations
The investigation reveals that Hirst may have misdated at least 1,000 paintings from his “The Currency” series. These works, initially claimed to have been created in 2016, were allegedly produced several years later, between 2018 and 2019. “The Currency” consists of 10,000 unique, colorful dotted artworks on A4-sized paper, which were offered to collectors either as physical paintings or as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). If a collector chose the NFT, the corresponding physical artwork was destroyed. The project garnered significant attention and sales, amassing $21 million USD during its initial 2021 offering.

Background of the Artwork and Sales
The concept behind “The Currency” was innovative and captured the art community’s interest, especially during the height of the NFT boom. Collectors had the opportunity to invest in physical art or its digital equivalent, highlighting the intersection of traditional art and digital assets. Hirst’s approach was to merge the two worlds in a way that engaged with modern collectors’ sensibilities.

The Production Process
According to The Guardian’s sources, including some involved in the creation of the artworks, the misdated paintings were produced by a team of painters employed by Hirst’s company, Science Ltd. The production took place across two studios, located in Gloucestershire and London. One source described the production process as a “Henry Ford production,” implying a highly systematic, assembly-line approach to creating the artworks.

Response from Hirst’s Representatives
While Hirst’s representatives have acknowledged the misdating of at least 1,000 pieces from “The Currency” series, they have not confirmed the exact number of artworks affected. The revelation raises questions about the authenticity practices and transparency in the art market, especially in the burgeoning field of art NFTs.

Broader Implications
This isn’t the first time Hirst has faced controversy over the dating of his work. Earlier, he was reported to have misattributed the production dates of several of his formaldehyde sculptures, including the famous shark encased in glass, which was actually created in 2017.

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