RSPCA: A million creatures have died for Damien Hirst's art
GETTY Damien Hirst has continually used animals as part of his creations
During his 30-year career, the controversial artist has continually used animals as part of his creations, with his most famous work featuring creatures such as a shark and zebra. But he has now come under fire from animal rights groups following detailed analysis of the vast number of creatures that he has used. The website Artnet claim a total of 913,450 creatures have been used in his installations since he first arrived on the scene in the early 1990s.
The RSPCA would be very concerned to hear about any animal suffering as part of an art project - we believe that all animals should be treated with respect, compassion and in a manner that minimises the risk of harm RSPCA spokesman
Some were reportedly dead before he acquired then, although there are claims that others were allegedly killed in the name of art. His 1990 work One Thousand Years featured a rotting cow skull producing maggots that turned into flies that were then zapped by an electric bug killer. That was followed famously by a series of animals preserved in formaldehyde, including a tiger shark and a cow and calf cut in half, and the death of thousands of butterflies at an exhibition.
GETTY One Thousand Years featured a rotting cow scull producing maggots that turned into flies
The RSPCA said it was very concerned by the figures. A spokesman said: "The RSPCA would be very concerned to hear about any animal suffering as part of an art project - we believe that all animals should be treated with respect, compassion and in a manner that minimises the risk of harm. "This includes animals and insects, all of which deserve to be treated with kindness."
Damien Hirst Sun, June 7, 2015 Bristol-born artist Damien Hirst shot to fame as part of the Young British Artists movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s, alongside the likes of Tracy Emin, Gary Hume, and Michael Landy. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 22 Damien Hirst poses for photographs in front of his work entitled 'The Incredible Jouney' during a photocall at Sotheby's in 2008
According to Artnet, which conducted the research based on information from Hirst's official website, the creatures used by the artist includes 13 sheep; seven Holstein Friesian cows; five calves; four bulls; three baby horses; two pigs; one brown bear; one zebra; 27 sharks and 668 fish. It also features 850,000 houseflies; 45,000 insects of more than 3,000 species; 17,000 butterflies; five birds; 46 pork sausages (estimated two whole pigs) and one diamond encrusted human skull. In addition, his installations have included 624 internal organs from eight cows, 16 cow skulls, 41 fish skeletons and one gilded woolly mammoth skeleton.
GETTY He did a series of animals preserved in formaldehyde including a tiger shark
Caroline Goldstein, of Artnet, said: "Throughout his career, Hirst has sourced his materials through a variety of methods and from a variety of sources, including Australian shark-hunter Vic Hislop, the London-based taxidermist Emily Mayer, and London's own fabled Billingsgate Fish Market. "Some of the animals were dead before Hirst came around, while others met ends tailored to their artistically-conceived resting places." In her article, she also highlights the fact that death is Hirst's "great theme". She added: "'It's amazing what you can do with an E in A-Level art, a twisted imagination, and a chainsaw," Hirst declared, accepting the Turner Prize in 1995. 'Indeed.'"
GETTY Artist Damien Hirst in front of zebra in formaldehyde