Hirst says major auction comes from his inner punk

By Mike Collett-White and Soheil Afdjei

LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - British artist Damien Hirst says his decision to hold an open auction of new works rather than go down the more traditional route of galleries and dealers is his way of being a modern-day punk.

The 43-year-old shocked the contemporary art world when he announced that more than 220 new works, collectively called "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever", would be auctioned by Sotheby's in the first sale of its kind by a major artist.

One of the world's most bankable painters and sculptors, Hirst's works are expected to raise over 65 million pounds ($116 million), adding to his already sizeable fortune that one newspaper said already amounts to more than $1 billion.

Speaking to Reuters at a press preview of the works in London, Hirst was unapologetic for mixing creativity with cash despite accusations he is producing only for profit. One commentator referred to the auction as a "clearance" sale.

"I think the world is changing, you know, I mean I was approached by the auction house, when it wasn't my idea," said Hirst, surrounded by works that include his trademark animals in formaldehyde, spin and butterfly paintings and variations on the pill cabinets.

"The commercial aspects of art and all the money side of things makes the art feel very much alive for me, so (it) just makes sense to go in there," he added.

"I like risk and craziness and people saying 'Oh my God', and I think that you get a lot of that, you know. I'm a punk at heart. I was too young to be a punk, I think I was 12 in '77, so I think I've waited until now really to do all that stuff."

MONEY GENERATES INTEREST