Damien Hirst Defies The Economy

"Spin" painting, by Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst with The Golden Calf

This past Monday, the Dow Jones plummeted 500 points.

The last time the market reached this low was in the few days after September 11, 2001.

Lovely.

Meanwhile, on the same day, contemporary British artist Damien Hirst made $127.2 million during his auction entitled "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever."  The auction comprised 223 of his works which were created within the last two years.

"Damien Hirst is a global artist that can defy local economies," said Tobias Meyer, global head of contemporary art at Sotheby's.  

The most memorable piece of the auction was called "The Golden Calf," a real white calf preserved in a clear case of formaldehyde.  Its hoofs and horns are made of 18-carat gold, and its head is crowned with a gold disc.

The calf sold for $18.6 million to  a buyer on the phone.

That's what I want in my living room.  Veal, anyone?