An art world meltdown
Marc Quinn creates works of art using an unusual choice of material — his own blood. One of his best-known pieces, called Self, is a sculpture of his own head made out of his blood that has been frozen solid.
Quinn made the piece about ten years ago. Over a period of five months, the artist took nine pints of his own blood, and used it for the sculpture. Self created a sensation when it was first publicly exhibited. The life-sized blood-red bust even caused some people to faint when they saw it.
But just a few weeks ago in a terrible and disgusting twist of fate, the work was accidentally destroyed.
The sculpture, which had been purchased (for about $25,000) by millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi, was being kept in his home inside a refrigerated case.
Workmen in Saatchi’s home doing some renovation work moved the freezer case, inadvertantly unplugging the motor keeping the freezer going. A short time later, the workers noticed a pool of blood had formed around the floor. The workmen opened the freezer door, and saw to their horror that the fragile, irreplaceable work of art had melted into a red puddle.
Art critic and scholars were horrified, and Quinn and Saatchi refused to comment. But one wag did refer to the situation as “a bloody mess.”
What’s the grossest work of art you’ve ever seen? Let us know!