For the Love of God, Shine

In 2007, Damien Hirst made international headlines with the release of ‘For the Love of God’, a
human skull cast in platinum and set with 8,601 diamonds, totalling a massive 1,106.18 carats. The
raw materials used in its creation makes ‘For the Love of God’ an artwork of unprecedented artistry
and scale.

In the same year as the sculpture’s release, Hirst reproduced the image in a series of large‐scale print
editions, including ‘For the Love of God, Shine’. The skull is caught in the same position as the
original sculpture, its jaw open and seemingly grinning. The glistening diamonds of the skull are
captured here in incredible detail, enhanced by the contrasting black backdrop. As such, the
opulence and lustre of the original sculpture is beautifully maintained.

Staring directly back at the viewer, ‘For the Love of God, Shine’, like the sculpture, is often
interpreted as a direct and confrontational memento mori, a reminder of the fragility of life. An
argument has also been made for the opposite, interpreting the work, like his ‘Butterflies’, as a
glorious gesture of life literally in the face of death.