Damien Hirst's "For the Love of God"
British artist Damien Hirst recently revealed his newest project, the most expensive work of art ever created, to the Observer. It is a life-size human skull, cast in platinum and covered in about 8,500 diamonds. The largest diamond on the piece will be a 50-karat diamond in the center of the skull. The total value of the materials involved in making the skull, entitled "For the Love of God," will be £8-10 million, but the retail value of the finished piece could be up to £50 million. His motivation for undertaking such an extravagant project? Hirst said "I just want to celebrate life by saying to hell with death."
The piece will not be unveiled until 2007.