A Golden Calf for Sale

Not sure what I think about this: UK avante artist Damien Hirst created a Golden Calf - literally dipped in gold, but preserved in formaldehyde - and is now going to auction it at Sotheby's. Here's the picture. TNR thinks it's selling out (sort of). I, honestly, don't know what I think. But you can't disagree that it's a powerful statement ... the question just becomes "what is the statement?"

UPDATE: (via Mississippi) think the Onion had this in mind?