The breaks are slowly being applied on China’s enthusiasm for art and with greater global economic uncertainty, the official opening of Frieze Art Fair today will test the strength of the art market as collectors and investors descend onto London this week.
It’s perhaps no surprise that the artist who holds the world record for sales by a living artist at auction in 2008 has decided to freeze time before the situation gets any worse. In collaboration with Italian luxury watchmakers Panerai, Damien Hirst unveils two new paintings in the exhibition, O’Clock. Time Design, Design Time held at Milan’s centre for contemporary Italian industrial design, La Triennale di Milano.
Beautiful Sunflower and Beautiful Fractional Sunflower take the form of Hirst’s now-iconic spin paintings with the addition of Panerai watch faces, sans hands, that are scattered across the canvas. While this latest Hirst collaboration lacks the aesthetic quality of previous partnerships – I would have liked to see the black watch faces covered in paint – the in motion versus timeless concept creates a sense of not knowing whether we’re coming or going, a vortex of uncertainty: a sign of the times.
Triennale di Milano
6 Viale Alemagna
20121
Milan, Italy
