, , , , , , , ,

Review: My Life in a Spin. A conversation between Frank Dunphy and Tim Marlow

This is a DVD of Tim Marlow, Director of Exhibitions at The White Cube Gallery, London, in conversation with Frank Dunphy, who managed and helped Damien Hirst become the world’s most successful living artist of all time. Below is a snippet:

    
 I have known about Frank Dunphy, described by Marlow in the DVD as the, “Unsung hero of British art success,” for some time. I have tried, rather obsessively I must admit, to find out everything I can about the man who is in many ways responsible for much of the Success that Damien Hirst has achieved in the last 15 years. My Google searches have to date come up with one or two short video interviews and a handful of articles briefly describing the relationship between manager and famous artist from a distance. Never really giving enough information. Well never enough to satisfy my curiosity. Nothing directly from the horses mouth. Nothing that is until I saw this DVD.

The DVD was put together by artist Neil Lawson-Baker who is chairman of the Chichester Arts Trust and has been running the The National Open Art Competition here in the UK for the past 15 years. It is the third in a series of lectures entitled the “Chichester Art Lectures” and the lecture itself took place in 2011.

The Early Days
The film is an interesting and rather heart warming look at Dunphy and his endearing relationship with Hirst. As his début lecture so to speak, Dunphy comes across almost like a proud father who cares deeply about his son, while simultaneously obviously being a very shrewd and intelligent businessman. Starting with the interesting story of how he came to work with Hirst through Hirsts mother, he talks knowledgeably and almost nonchalantly, about the business of art and the huge sums of money that have been involved in some of the famous transactions that have taken place over the course of Hirsts career. Dunphy briefly and empathetically touches on Hirsts rock and roll years from 1995 till 2002 and deftly goes on to discussing his own history- a rather colourful one involving accountancy, clowns, dwarfs and an interesting sounding peep show nude artist by the name of Peaches Page. Dunphys descriptions and stories of how he and Hirst first started working together to develop his business and ultimately, his brand are simultaneously funny and informative if you are a Hirst junkie like me.

Beautiful Inside My Head Forever Auctions and Pharmacies
Anyone who knows Hirsts name will be aware of that now infamous Sotheby’s auction which took place on the same day that the Lehman Brothers fell in 2008. When I heard the news of the amount of money that was made, I found it ironic. I remember being wildly impressed. Dunphy describes his and Hirsts emotions and they are not what I thought they would be. His description is strangely emotional and inspirational while being informative and interesting. He sets the whole buying back stock rumour to rest in this section. Something I for one really wanted to know.

Remember the Pharmacy restaurant incident? Dunphy explains the whole thing in some detail. A very enlightening section of the DVD and it is not what the press would have you believe.

 

Damien Hirst. Beautiful Inside My Head Forever. 2008


Galleries
Most artists and aspiring artists have an interest in the relationships between galleries, collectors and artists. Dunphy goes into percentages and touches on how he managed the relationship between some of the big galleries that Hirst was working with, delving into the potential to negotiate fairer deals with galleries. Obviously, Hirst is and was in a unique position in that he could afford to do so, but Dunphy and Marlow discuss the gallery relationship and whether or not some artists would be able to get away with what Hirst famously did.

For the Love of God
If you ever wanted the low down on how the famous diamond skull with a market value of £50million came into being, Dunphy gives it to you here.

 “For the Love of God”. Damien Hirst

Verdict
As you probably guessed, I enjoyed this DVD. I have always had an interest in Hirst and I have been curious about his manager for some time now. The DVD answered most of my questions… I wouldn’t mind delving further myself…

The film reaffirmed my original suspicion and one of the opening lines that Marlowe says at the start of the DVD,

“All artists need a Frank Dunphy.”

Anyone got his number?

Frank Dunphy and Damien Hirst. Image from the Wall Street Journal

Links
Purchase the DVD here: http://www.thenationalopenartcompetition.com/podcasts.php

If you are an artist interested in the National Open Art Competition, well it’s a bit late now as it is closed for this year, but you can always enter next year here:

The National Open Art Competition
Neil Lawson-Baker art

/by