Should Hirst be First?
In this Perspective, Stuart Atkinson takes issue with Damien Hirst’s spot painting being the first artwork to land on another planet via the Beagle 2 Mars Lander.
| I’m disappointed - and, if I’m honest, a little annoyed - by the choice … it elevates Mr. Hirst to the position of mankind’s first interplanetary ambassador. |
Although there’s no doubting either the publicity or the scientific value of placing a painting on the Beagle 2 lander instead of a standard color chart, the choice of Damien Hirst as the Mars Express project’s contributing artist may raise a few eyebrows. I’ll admit it raised mine. Because when I think of one of his paintings adorning the probe - whether it’s practical or not - I have a problem with it.
Cards on the table: I’m not a fan of modern art at the best of times. I don’t mind admitting that I just “don’t get” a lot of it - it’s way over my head so to speak. To my admittedly cynical eye, Hirst’s “spot paintings” look like a cross between the tests used for establishing the severity of someone’s color blindness, and a colony of bacteria seen through a microscope. But that’s my problem. Maybe I don’t appreciate the forms, the structures, the artistic processes and values behind modern art.
But my concerns over the use of one of Damien Hirst’s paintings for this run deeper than mere artistic prejudice. I’m disappointed - and, if I’m honest, a little annoyed - by the choice, because it elevates Mr. Hirst to the position of mankind’s first interplanetary ambassador. I can’t help thinking that there are dozens of wonderful artists out there struggling away in their studios and galleries who are infinitely more qualified to represent us on the Red Frontier, men and women whose work has been seen and enjoyed, repeatedly by almost everyone reading these words on this website.
For decades space artists have taken us, through their paintings, to worlds we could never hope to see in person. Long before Kennedy even thought about going to the Moon, artists like Chesley Bonestell were taking us on breathtaking tours of its craters, valleys and seas through under-rated works of art. And today, even though our solar system is swarming with camera-carrying spaceprobes, artists like Pamela Lee, William Hartmann and Don Davis are still producing stunning artwork to illustrate the books, magazines and posters we space enthusiasts and armchair explorers devour so greedily.
In my opinion, if any artists deserve to be involved in a space mission like ESA’s Mars Express, then space artists do. After all, their stunning works of art have made a difference to many people, have actually inspired them to look up at the sky and contemplate the beauty and promise of the universe. The works of Ron Miller, Kim Poor, David Hardy - and let’s not forget the original “Visions of Mars” project director, Jon Lomberg - have helped people to imagine themselves standing on the surfaces of distant worlds. I have no doubt that the breathtaking paintings of Robert McCall and Carter Emmart, to name just two, have inspired many school kids to fill in an astronaut application form and follow their dreams.
I understand totally the mission team’s reasons for choosing a painting by Hirst - guaranteed media exposure, a trendy, modern angle etc - and I wish them nothing but success with the mission. It’s a beautiful, wonderful thing, breathtakingly-ambitious and romantically grand in scope. But I can’t help thinking that this one part of it is Wrong. There are many space artists out there who are much more qualified - and more deserving - to be “Mars Ambassadors” than someone who has made his name by splitting sheep, sharks and calves in half and displaying their carcasses, exposed entrails and all, in tanks of formaldehyde.
I should stress that this isn’t an attack on modern art; it’s not for me to say what’s good or bad, and I would never presume to do so. And maybe I am just an ignorant savage. I’m sure that Mr. Hirst’s paintings are respected and prized by modern art aficionados for a good reason. And maybe he is a genius in his particular field. I just think that the same results could have been achieved with a more conventional space art painting showing something more, well, symbolic, something more appropriate, you know? A gloved hand lovingly cradling twin globes, a red one for Earth and a blue one for Mars … or a painting of a Martian landscape or even just a rock …
Maybe there’s room for two paintings on Beagle?
Related Articles:
Mars Express: It’s Art, Jim… Stuart Atkinson takes a look at the extraordinary spot painting by Damien Hirst that will be hitching a ride on the Beagle 2 lander.
Filed under: Articles on August 7th, 2001
Dear sir.i too do not, shall we say appreciate! mr Hirsts particular form of art.But as a avid follower of Beagle 2 since its conception.(being from the U.K).I must point out that the painting will not be of any wild design, merely spots.i am sure you know what it will be used for.Mr Hirsts involvemnt in the project came along at the same time as the pop band “Blur”’s track “no distance left to run” was picked to act as a test signal for the lander.To understand these two additions you must realise the dilemma of the Beagle 2 team. Our nation is not usualy a front runner in the space exploration stakes, and the British public seem not too interested in any form of space science. These publicity orientated appointments came about to try and create awareness of the project..and at the time try to help raise the cash we were very desperate for to carry the whole Beagle 2 mission forward.Thank you.Anth.
space art belongs on earth not in space .. if and when we get to mars - i mean humans, Then we can bring our art .. otherwise, it belongs to the arguments of the armchair enthusiats ..
I was very interested in reading your comments. As a contemporary UK artist myself, I am to have one of my works transported to the surface of the Moon by the end of this year onboard a US orbiter. If all goes to plan, as it should, I will be mankind’s first interplanetary arts ambassador only in as much as my work will be on the Moon by the end of 2002. Hirst’s flight will not depart until 2003 and will then take nine months. I certainly hold no gripes about Damien’s work and think of all his practice, the colour chart is without a doubt the most fitting for the Beagle project. If we are to get our work into space, we will only accomplish this by being proactive and attempting to make it happen as I and others have… it’s not as difficult as you might think!
Do we really want the artwork of someone who thinks cutting an animal in half is clever to represent us as a species? I think not,it’s a dumb idea.
I want his email address….anyone know it? I know its kind of an odd question…but I am doing my senior study..and no one prolly has it. please EMAIL ME….
(senior project)-College
Dear Stuart,
As an avid proponent of both space travel and interplanetary harmony, I too had reservations about the selection of Damien Hirst’s work as exemplary of the human race. The implications of allowing the art world to serve as an envoy for the entire planet are solemn indeed. However I do have one comment to add to your illuminating discourse. If there are, in fact, any living creatures on Mars, the scientific probablility suggests that these creatures would be blind. The only perceptive features on such creatures would be auditory, which would maen that earth’s first interplanetary ambassador will be…. Damon Albarn! I would have felt remiss if I had neglected to shed light on this, however minor, cultural observation. Yours most sincerely,
Robert Loblaw