r/opieandanthony: Is Damien Hirst a well known name in the us?

Is Damien Hirst a well known name in the us?

0 2015-10-21 by Dennyislife

Terry Gilliam brought him up and both Opie and Jim had no idea who he was. He was pretty much the 90's banksy in that people who didn't give a fuck about art had at least heard his name. He then brought up some of his work in a exasperated way of jogging their memory but no luck. So is it just a case of him being a name in the UK where Terry is based as am i or just two idiots hosting a radio show?

16 comments

6 AntsCamera 2015-10-21

That is not a common name here across the pond.

Although you are right about 2 idiots hosting a radio show.

3 BeerCanThick 2015-10-21

He was a big time art guy. I live in the middle of Nowhere, U.S. and I know about him (the diamond skull and embalmed shark thing and all that), so you figure some guys living in Manhattan would have heard of them.

Then again, these are people who were just off on the birth of Muhammad, the rise of Islam and Islamic empires by hundreds to about 1000 years today. Jimmy was talking about the 16th Century as the beginning of Islam, for fuck's sake!

3 Pat_Battle_Storage 2015-10-21

Hirst is more famous in the U.S. than any contemporary American artist is. The "Sensation"/YBA publicity barrage lasted for years here, especially in New York. His work is always on display somewhere around town, and his name is out on the big MoMA banners pretty often.

But he's not a Kardashian and he doesn't do sweaty tights shows, so they wouldn't know.

2 ChrisCapezza 2015-10-21

never heard of him

1 Trewu 2015-10-21

The real issue here is that Opie got to interview Terry Gilliam.
I don't even want to listen to the embarrassing train wreck it surely was.

"We've got the Monty Python guy in studio today. I'm all in with the Monty Python, right Jimmy?"

3 BoboOrban6 2015-10-21

ME: So what was it like as a Brit to work in Hollywood?

ME: I love all your films, sir, my favourite is probably Edward Scissorhands or Big Fish.

ME: So what are the other guys up to? Like, do you still keep up with Graham Chapman, brothaman?

2 Dennyislife 2015-10-21

oh yeah Terry brought up a old bit of monty python and Opie pretended to know about it even though last week he said he had admitted he'd only seen Gilliam's solo film Jabberwocky thinking it was Monty Python.

1 HoagieBoi 2015-10-21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-50rwp6zPU

1 BoboOrban6 2015-10-21

The most famous artist/conman of the 90s, of course I've heard of him. For anyone interested in art, check out Robert Hughes' documentary The Mona Lisa Curse that demolishes the contemporary art world.

2 rickygri 2015-10-21

Thanks man I just watched this. Amazing

1 truthie 2015-10-21

Yeah he's been one of the most famous artist on earth for over a decade. Even in America.

1 YouAintGotToLieCraig 2015-10-21

I'm not familiar with the name, but after googling, I saw a few pieces I am familiar with (shark tank, diamond skull)

1 little-pete-ferguson 2015-10-21

A case of Island syndrome I think- ie the UK thinks that their famous people are worldwide names. The same way the Germans regard Hasslehoff as a god

Emin, Banksy, Hirst only big shots in UK methinks

1 Dennyislife 2015-10-21

That's why I asked to see if it was a case of only artists and him being famous over here. Seems enough replies suggest Opie and Jim are just thick.