For anyone who thinks that setting is unimportant, Hirst's gap-toothed skull has the last laugh. In its dark strongroom on the Tate Turbine floor, the ritual is as much part as the artifact. There is a queue, timed entry, security guards and the room is pitch black- reminiscent of the crown jewels.
These precursors set the mood nicely- in a glowing box in the middle of the strongroom, the diamond-encrusted skull sits like a holy relic. Even here, the presentation is crucial- the polished glass of the box reflect the image, so the sparkle seems to go on infinitely in mirrors.
And the piece itself? An awesome memento mori. The skull itself is surprisingly small, and beautifully asymmetric. The diamonds sparkle wonderfully, especially the third-eyes pieces on the forehead- it looks like the skull of a god, meditating, looking back at itself.
The combination of exquisite wealth and vanitas make this hugely richer in many senses in death.
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