(image of Mr Uhovski with Damien Hirst, via Gallerist NY)

Three art lovers travelled thousands of miles and spent an estimated thousands of dollars as part of a Damien Hirst Spot Challenge where they were rewarded with a personally dedicated spot print by the revered British artist.

The Gagosian Gallery held 11 exhibitions around the world of Hirst's spot paintings this month, and offered this coveted personalised prize print to those fans that proved they had visited each exhibition.

"Damien and the gallery thought it would be extraordinary if someone made it to every location. He felt that whoever did should be rewarded with some artwork," Millicent Wilner, a director of the Gagosian Gallery in London, told The Independent.

Valentine Uhovski, Jeff Chu and Tan Wong were the three lucky Hirst fans who completed the challenge.

Jeffrey Chu told The New York Times that it took him eight days to complete the challenge and "not as much money as you think". He also said the experience "got people like me who wouldn't normally set foot in a Gagosian Gallery to see his work", and added that Hirst's spot paintings "grew on me over the eight days."

Art Info estimated that to complete the challenge in eight days, it must have taken the winners:

44 hours of travel time
8 hours to eat
3 hours spent waiting at airports or in customs
2 hours to go to the bathroom

Sheesh!

We'd like to know if you've ever gone to great lengths to win an original or printed artwork?

And, if you had the time and money, would you have taken part in the challenge?

 

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