'Exquisite Pain' - Damien Hirst, St. Bartholomew-the-Great, West Smithfield
Tags: Art · Philosophy · Curiosity
A gilded C-3PO in a medieval priory? I walked into St Bartholomew-the-Great, West Smithfield in November 2017 to see Damien Hirst's Exquisite Pain and wrote about how the burnished gold jars. I describe the flayed Saint Bartholomew, the skin like an overcoat, anatomy echoes, Edward Scissorhands and art and religion.
Rolly's Take
This blog resonates with those who find beauty in the unsettling, who seek a deeper understanding of art's interplay with faith and mortality. It speaks to the curious mind that lingers on the fringes of the sacred and the grotesque, where gilded surfaces hide the raw truths beneath. For the reader drawn to the threads of history and personal reflection, it captures the essence of grappling with existence — a dance between reverence and the uncomfortable realities of life and death. Here lies an exploration that invites contemplation, prompting you to question not just what art is, but what it reveals about the human condition.