Hidden Hirst sold for £200
Published on: 29-Aug-2007
One lucky bidder found himself the proud owner of a piece of contemporary art by Damien Hirst after picking the painting out at an anonymous auction.The wall art piece was donated to the Flatlake Arts and Literary Festival by the artist himself and then displayed to bidders hidden within the other lots - which included work by A Level students.
"I had devised the idea and I had framed Damien's work myself on an oblong mount to put people off the scent," Kevin Allen, film director and organiser of the auction, told the Independent.
"Five of Ireland's most prominent art dealers were standing at the front. When the bidding started, it was the best theatre I had ever seen."
Some of the other wall art pieces and sculptures sold for up to £5,000 - whereas the real Hirst contemporary art work was snapped up for just £200.
Film producer Allan Maloney already owns pieces from the 'Spin' series, to which the item belonged, and so recognised it and won the bidding. He agreed to reauction the contemporary art and it finally went for £95,000.
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