Leeds Art Gallery

Getting started

Visiting an Art Gallery for the first time can be intimidating as it is hard to know what you can and can not do. Also, it seems that there are all these unwritten rules as to how to behave and what you should do. So, what better a way to get int o the sing of things than with a trip with the rest of the REALISE group?

We were very lucky to be able to spend some time in the Artists Rooms: Damien Hirst section of the gallery, a touring show which finishes this week! This is the first time Damien Hirst has ever shown his work for free in a public gallery and the response has been phenomenal with over 11,000 visitors in the first week alone.

To find out more about the touring Artist Rooms: Click here!

In this exhibition we talked about really big questions such as what is art and who decides what is art?

Here are some images of Damien Hirst's work below. Do they look like Art to you? Why? What might have influenced you?

Most believed this is art due to it's colour and pattern. Do you agree?

A sculptural triptych made using anatomical models, all were pre-made. Is this Art?

'Away from the Flock' from the Natural History series which Hirst is arguably most famous for.

'The Anatomy of an Angel,' 2008. How was this made? Did Hirst make it?

Panel from 'Pharmacy' restaurant that Hirst set up in 1998 in London.

Damien Hirst split opinions with some believing that his work was skillful and interesting with themes about death and life. Others in the group did not feel his work was art as a lot of things were pre-made or not created by him. Some felt that it depended what piece you were looking at and how you were 'reading it' that decided whether the piece was art or not.

If you are interested in the Art Gallery, Damien Hirst or other contemporary artists, see one of the delivery team for more information!