Hanging Tree (Post 9)

Andy Goldsworthy created this piece called Hanging Tree as part of a series for a park. There were three pieces in total, all made from felled trees in the park. This particular tree is called the hanging tree because it is embedded into the stone wall around it and suspended above ground. The finished product almost gives the illusion of looking through a window. On the other hand, to me it almost seemed to represent the death of nature. The fact that the tree is in the ground and in a rectangular shape seems to suggest death.

Diamond Skull (Post 8)

Damien Hirst's Diamond Skull was a very controversial piece when he first made it. The main issue people took with this particular piece of artwork is that it is an actual human skull. While on one hand this raises the question of respect for the deceased, it can also be pointed out that Hirst just modified an otherwise old tradition. The decoration of skulls is not uncommon in some cultures. Yet another issue raised with this piece is that the skull sold for a million dollars. Aside from the fact this again brings up the issue of disrespect, it also indicates that art is something material, to be bought. The fact that Hirst sold the skull for a million dollars seems a bit excessive.