Year: 2009
Medium: Acrylic and metallic paint on paper
Dimensions: 51.5 x 68.5 cm (20 3/8 x 27 in.)
Acquired from Sotheby's, 2022
This work was created to commemorate Hirst's retrospective exhibition "Requiem" held at the Pinchuk Art Center (Kyiv) in Ukraine in 2008. In this exhibition, Hirst created and exhibited a number of new “Spin Painting" works along with some of his early major works such as “A Thousand Years” and Formalin preserved shark titled “Death Explained”. This work was created by attaching canvas onto a hypnotic disc (multiple holes are visible in a fixed mode), dripping the paint upon the machine, then radically suffused with centrifugal explosions of vivid color. Hirst characteristically diverts specific motifs into his works. In one series insect specimens are embedded directly into the painting, and another series numerous butterfly wings are arranged into psychedelic patterns to resemble a rainbow or a kaleidoscope. It is, however, controversial that vivid life and death are shown in a dewy, grotesque manner yet concealed with vibrant colors at the same time. One of Hirst’s other allegories that evoke life and death is his recurring use of butterflies, as well as skulls and pills, thus can also be seen as vanitas.
