For the sake of consistency, YBA Damien Hirst who has been heavily criticised for not making his own art work, has commissioned the ghostwriter James Fox to pen his autobiography. Set to publish, Autumn 2015 Hirst is to release a tell all tale of the British modern art world. Fox is the author of bad boy Keith Richards’ autobiography, as well as the book White Mischief, which recounted the Happy Valley murder case in Kenya in 1941.
The book will be published by Penguin Books on their ‘Classics’ imprint. Penguin claims they will market the bio in the “radical” way Morrissey’s autobiography was pushed. It has not been disclosed just how much Hirst was advanced for the deal and whispers of a film are sure to follow.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Fox stated; “He (Hirst) grew up in a pretty bad situation, with his mother, and he and his gang – many of whom became YBA artists, spent half their time housebreaking, stealing, [indulging in] criminality, and the rest of their time indulging their passion for art, which started very early on in their years. “I found that completely fascinating, moving, the idea of a saving connection to art. The fearlessness of Damien, his ability to take on authority, to never say anything can’t be done, to break all the rules. That very much comes from that background.”
Hirst the UK’s wealthiest living artist, who according to the Sunday Times’ Rich List has earned a fortune estimated at £215m.
Photo: P C Robinson © Artlyst 2014