David and Goliath
Posted by Matt Hopper, 1 October 2009 12:23
Damien Hirst's feud with a 16yo street artist named Cartrain has probably become the most controversial story of his already controversial career. It would appear from public opinion that it's not OK for a rich artist to use his power to bully a young artist who has emulate him by making art with found materials.
Maybe this storm in the British artist's tea cup has something to do with his hurt pride due to the Hirst portrait that Cartrain infiltrated into the National Portrait
Gallery in London last year. He's a cheeky little sod no doubt but a bloody clever one to boot. It's a pretty good portrait and now remains in the gallery's collection.
Ironically, after making over $300 million from his art, Hirst has now instructed his lawyers to demand 200 quid from Cartrain for unauthorized usage of his artwork's image. So far Cartrain has refused to pay and has become world famous as a result. It would seem that history does repeat itself with David laying another blow on Goliath.
