Damien Hirst
(1965)
Honor (from The Virtues) (2021)
Signed and with number 558/693 on a label on the reverse
Laminated glicée print on aluminum composite panel, 120 x 96.2 cm
Published by Heni Editions, London (cat. no. H9-6)
Provenance:
– Heni Editions, London, 2021
- Private collection, the Netherlands
Note:
Damien Hirst, the provocative figure among the Young British Artists, gained fame for his unsettling artworks centered around themes of death. However, with The Virtues, Hirst undergoes a notable transformation, revealing his yearning for beauty and hope.
The Virtues pays homage to the “Eight Virtues of Bushitō” as named by Nitobe Inazō: courage, mercy, justice, honesty, politeness, honour, loyalty, and self-control. Throughout his artistic journey, Hirst's mother has purportedly not been the biggest admirer of his work. However, with The Virtues, Hirst envisioned a series that would finally resonate with her and garner her appreciation: “When I was making the animals in formaldehyde, she said, 'Oh, there's enough horror in the world, can't you do paintings of flowers?' And I think, my God, it's taken me until I'm 55 before I can please her.”
* Condition report available upon request