Damien Hirst’s Fiery Flip‑Flop: Art Gets Burned, NFTs Get Glory
The Big Deal
In a headline‑making move on Tuesday, Damien Hirst set hundreds of his own artworks ablaze. Why? Because collectors had a choice: keep a physical masterpiece or swap it for its digital twin—the NFT.
The Original Swap
Back in July 2021, Hirst rolled out “The Currency”, a library of 10,000 unique NFTs. Each one tied to a physical spot painting, bright and bold. When buyers hit the “Buy” button, they could either:
- Hold the actual canvas (sold for about $2,000)
- Swap it for the digital version (the NFT)
The gallery’s numbers were striking: 5,149 chose the paper, 4,851 opted for the pixelated “digital.”
The Burning Ceremony
Hirst announced on Instagram that he’d torch 1,000 of the unreplaced physical pieces. He and his crew—yes, even a Turner Prize winner—used tongs to pile each artwork into the gallery’s very own fireplaces. A livestream kept viewers glued as the masterpieces went up in smoke.
Hirst’s ‘Nice’ Justification
He wrote, “People think I’m destroying priceless art. I’m actually turning it into high‑tech value—letting the NFTs carry the worth.” He added, “Burning these pieces is easier than expected.”
Why It Matters
ENAMEL on handmade paper had once been a hush‑hush affair. Now, the shift from “real” to “digital” reflects a booming NFT scene that saw wild price hikes last year, only to dip more recently. Hirst’s stunt forces us to ask: are we still valuing art when it’s gone? And what does it say about collectors who’re willing to trade a tangible object for a block‑chain record?
Some Famous Works
If you’re curious about Hirst’s other controversial pieces, think: The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (a dead shark in formaldehyde, perhaps) and For The Love Of God (a platinum skull studded with gems). His spot paintings and mining‑heavy pieces are always a conversation starter.
Takeaway
Damien Hirst is burning his art to prove one thing: the value of an artwork can live on, whether it’s a stained glass of enamel or the invisible lines on a blockchain. Whether you love the burn or the badge, the art world doesn’t seem ready to stop taking the heat.
