Damien Hirst: A Retrospective (CV/Visual Arts Research)

Cv/VAR series 146 reviews the work of Damien Hirst (b.Bristol 1965) presented in a retrospective exhibition spanning twenty years, held at Tate Modern, April to September 2012. It explores the development of his art from the controversial animal vitrines and beautiful butterfly composites to an extensive series of spot paintings, where the artist engaged in a complex invigilation of coded systems that govern daily existence. It encounters the Fly series, in a rarely exhibited work One Thousand Years 1991, Pharmacy and For The Love of God, the celebrated diamond studded skull. With contributions by Edward Lucie-Smith, Marina Vaizey and James Cahill.