We've Got Style (The Vessel Collection-Yellow)

"We've got style (The Vessel Collection - Yellow)" is from a small series of 'cabinets' that Damien Hirst executed between 1993 and 1994. Unlike Hirst's earlier series of medicine cabinets or formaldehyde works, the reference to death is not as implicit at first glance. The bright yellow of the cabinet juxtaposed with the vivid colours of the vessels give a 'Pop Art' element to this work. Like in Claes Oldenburg's counter pieces, daily mass produced consumable objects are elevated and presented as 'art'. Damien Hirst, like the pop artists, borrows these objects or 'consumable units' and by doing so changes our perception of them. However, when looking in depth at 'We've got style', one realises that Damien Hirst's obsession with death is still present. The work can be compared with the Renaissance convention of travelling with vessel cabinets as an ostentatious display of wealth. Fundamentally these cabinets functioned as a momento-mori, in which the wealth of the owner of these vessels transcends his death. The contrast of apparent beauty with this hidden death message presents a morbid aspect in Damien Hirst's oeuvre. As the artist said "i hate death. i think it's rude. i love life. however, i think that suicide is the perfect way to deal with life. the problem with life is not knowing when you die, so with suicide you could choose a point where you die. you can say this is where I decide it ends, cut out the unknown element." (In: G. Burn and D. Hirst, 'Damien Hirst i want to spend the rest of my life everywhere, with everyone, one to one, always, forever, now', London 1997, p.246.)