My Conversation with Damien Hirst

Artist Damien Hirst discusses his (RED) auction. Bono and Damien Hirst have joined forces with Sotheby's and Gagosian Gallery to organize the most significant charity auction of Contemporary Art ever: The (RED) Auction which will be held at Sotheby's in New York on Valentine's Day, Thursday, February 14th, 2008. The proceeds are to go the United Nations Foundation to support HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa conducted by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Comments

[WilliePilgrim]

Wonderful. Thanks for posting this. I genuinely admire Damien's work and his activisim in raising money and awareness are just as they should be for all of us. The closed hand neither gives nor gets. Yeah, I know we're all not millionaires, nor are we all artists, or moms or dog walkers or grocery baggers. Hirst's disarming approach and his generousity is something to emulate no matter who you are or what you can do, and I feel that if at the outset, people instead of governments were to work together with their personal wealth we'd see more progress in addressing problems like AIDS and hunger and violence, because instead of just another big program handled by some beaurocrat or technician, it would be our vested interest..­.something sorely lacking in the way the world stumbles along. Why people resent others who have made their money on their talents and good luck, mystifies me, but then I'm about as poor as can be yet feel wealthy when I see my aged father and know I'll be looking after him for another day and for as long as I can. It's human and instinctual..I guess the way envy and greed go along so well together, though I'd rather focus on the positive. Thanks again for this brief interview illustrating the power of people to work together. Cheers.

[James Boyce - Huffpost Blogger]

here's the result of that auction, from another Huffington Post blogger,

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tamsin-smith/all-you-need-is-love-a-s_b_86814.html

Over $42 million raised and it all goes straight to Africa

[liveon]

who cares about this? these obscenely rich artists should give, and no matter what Hirst gave it wasn't enough. very uninteresting.