I wrote an editorial piece last week talking about the effect and potential effects of the economic climate on the art world. In a related update, I read in numerous publications this morning, that Damien Hirst has not renewed the contracts of more than half his staff. This is staff that carry out the production of his more expensive pieces. As I mentioned, there were hints that Hirst had decided to move towards providing less expensive pieces of work to the market place. Word now, is that this has been confirmed by Hirst’s people and reinforced by the news that staff have been let go. Hirst could probably be considered the Art World’s closest link to economics, this movement could be a sign of things to come, or merely a fragmented situation exclusive to an artist for whom the economy plays such a big part of his art itself.
