Sounds like a pretty good deal for Hirst, not only does he get the money from the sale of the skull but he also retains a part share and they exhibit it.

As an artist wanting to show your work and make a living you couldn't get better than that really.

I saw the Damien Hirst exhibition at the White Cube, and I have to say the prospect of seeing the skull was the thing that interested me least. There was a large queue to see it and you needed a separate ticket to view it for five seconds so I didn't bother!

The rest of the show was great, lots of new works with the usual mix from Hirst of art and science including a giant periodic table that Hirst had adapted.
 

Hirst is reported to have said his next project will be two bejeweled skeletons shagging. I think he sums up well his contribution to art (very little) and circus (very much)with such a statement. I know we are all reading about it and here I am writing about it but the whole shark, cow, spots, skull saga is becoming so boring. What would really shock us all is for his next work to have some quality and artistic merit.... but then it probably wouldn't sell. As for his part ownership of the skull i wonder if his share exeeds 99%. It's a great way to hype a load of tosh. No one lost money underestimating the lack of taste and discernment of the masses. Hollywood, Harry Potter, Tracy Emmin, The Bee Gees, MacDonalds, .... I rest my case..!
 

I'm afraid I simply don't understand it! An expensive, well-crafted & ostentatious paperweight perhaps, but art?
 

A craft it is. Nothing more.
 

it will look so nice in the corporate death lounge
 

Hirst is indeed a great creative mind and is work had historical relevance, but the art had to start turning other way, ideological speaking, the art cannot continue to be a mere puppet in the hands of capitalists, a product to made business, this is why many former imobiliary investers are now pointing they guns to art, dispiting they can care less about art, just about the monetary value art unfortunable get
 

bejeweled skeletons shagging.
hehehehehehehehehe
 

I prefer Fiona Hall's beautiful skull woven from glass beads. It's more interesting and she did it first.
 

i think its okay i suppose but hayley cuff hates it :0 xx
 

i think hirsts work is really inspiring. and i think fair play to him hes minted and people react over his work, whether it be a good reaction or a bad reaction..you still remember it. i find that far more interesting than a well painted picture or a well carved sculpture, thats all you remember it by. weldone to hirst i think hes a legend!