Damien Hirst, the richest breathing "artist," lives in a fashionable part of London. Certainly the Tiger Sharks he floats in Formaldehyde and sells for millions of pounds can't be local. Nope. They are from Australia, provided by Shark killer Vic Hislop.

Vic Hislop is sort of the Australian Frank Mundus, minus all that character baggage. Mundus was apologetic for Shark killing toward the end of his life, and was an outspoken proponent for mortality-reducing hooks, that would make catch-and-release Shark fishing more feasible. Vic Hislop claims that Shark bites are grossly under reported because chambers of commerce of seaside communities would lose money if people realized how dangerous Sharks really are. *Sigh* Hislop believes that most Shark attacks in Australia are covered but by authorities and the media in order to insure healthy profits for seaside communities. I guess under the same logic it would make sense for a Shark sport fisherman to OVERESTIMATE the danger of Sharks in order insure healthy profits for himself. Vic Hislop actually owns and operates his own "museum" to promote his ideas and his Shark fishing business.

It is sad that the richest artist--probably ever--patronizes someone like Vic Hislop. But then again, Hirst has pocketed some $360-some-odd Millions off his formaldehyde art. Hislop claims that a large Shark like he sold to Hirst would have only brought in $200 if sold for meat. It begs the question, who is the bigger douche?

--Sharky

technorati tags: Sharks, Tiger Sharks, art auctions, Sotheby's, Damien Hirst, pop art, Shark fishing, taxidermy, London

Except where otherwise noted, this content is
licensed under a Creative Commons License.