There is a convenient scandal brewing, did Damien Hirst rip off artist Lori Precious?... uh no but check it out here. Let's just say, ideas, butterflies and even PR stunts get recycled all the time. Kinda neat how Hirst isn't having this show in New York this Armory weekend huh? I'm a huge fan and though I doubt this was orchestrated directly it's a testament to the guy that people think he's capable of it (well he is, but why try when this kind of stuff can be almost counted on). The title of the show is "Superstition." It is a show title I wanted to use someday... arrgh, but it's totally appropriate. Also, PORT's own rather involved Damien Hirst review will be up tomorrow.

This is Lori Precious, the artist you are referencing.
This is not a "PR stunt". I am a serious practicing artist, protecting my lifes work.

SInce, as you say, you are a "huge fan" of Damien Hirst, is it possible you are biased in this matter? Here are some other blogs with more views represented:

http://www.artforum.com/talkback/id=64842#talkback64844
http://supertouchblog.com/?p=2680

I get it. I know who Hirst is, but until this debate had never heard of Lori Precious. Hirst is famous for a number of things, the shark, the spin paintings, the dot paintings, the medicine cabinets, butterfly mandalas(these aren't this year's model), the fly pieces, etc, etc, etc.

My advice to Precious would be to move on to another gimmick and hire some good PR people so that she doesn't the rug pulled out from her again. The artworld is TINY place and if her butterfly pieces were really "something", we would have heard about them a long time ago.

Lori, I believe you... I dont think you or Hirst are doing this as a PR stunt.

Yes Im biased (Im also not a court). I also tend to like most work using lepidopterans. Hirst's earlier butterfly paintings are some of my all time favs.

I remember that story about a young Matisse spending an entire month's stipend on a blue butterfly.

My other point is Hirst has such gravitational pull that nothing, not even a lawsuit over this can really hurt him... whether you intend it to be or not it's like a present to him.

Thanks for the links.

This is a sad state of affairs for Lori, however, this could also be the best thing that has happened to Lori. No matter what, in this situation, Hirst will "win" and sell his pieces for ridiculously large amounts. I just hope Lori Precious can make lemons into lemonade.