When enfant terrible of the art world Damien Hirst created the memento mori sculpture For the Love of the God – a platinum skull set with diamonds and human teeth – he divided the opinions of art experts. What went on to become one of the artist’s most popular artworks took its title from his mother’s reaction to her son’s oeuvre when she asked him: ‘For the love of God, what are you going to do next?’
Reviewing the art work, Dutch art historian Rudi Fuchs observed: ‘The skull is out of this world, celestial almost. It proclaims victory over decay. At the same time, it represents death as something infinitely more relentless. Compared to the tearful sadness of a vanitas scene, the diamond skull is glory itself.’
