Menu

Damien Hirst

Myths, Legends and Monsters

February 14–March 26, 2022
Gstaad

Installation view Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view with Damien Hirst, Larry Gagosian/Jean-Michel Basquiat (2019) Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view with Damien Hirst, Larry Gagosian/Jean-Michel Basquiat (2019)

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Installation view

Artwork © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Julien Gremaud

Works Exhibited

Damien Hirst, Sid, 2016 Oil on canvas, 16 × 11 ½ inches (40.6 × 29.2 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates

Damien Hirst, Sid, 2016

Oil on canvas, 16 × 11 ½ inches (40.6 × 29.2 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates

Damien Hirst, Joan, 2019 Oil on canvas, 40 × 30 ¼ inches (101.6 × 76.9 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Joan, 2019

Oil on canvas, 40 × 30 ¼ inches (101.6 × 76.9 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Shot Warhol, 2019 Oil on canvas, 60 ¼ × 42 ⅞ inches (153 × 109.1 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Shot Warhol, 2019

Oil on canvas, 60 ¼ × 42 ⅞ inches (153 × 109.1 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Burning Monk 2, 2018 Oil on canvas, 24 × 30 ⅞ inches (61 × 78.5 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Burning Monk 2, 2018

Oil on canvas, 24 × 30 ⅞ inches (61 × 78.5 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Malcolm X, 2019 Oil on canvas, 16 × 12 inches (40.6 × 30.5 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Malcolm X, 2019

Oil on canvas, 16 × 12 inches (40.6 × 30.5 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Indian Rope Trick, 2016 Oil on canvas, 30 × 20 inches (76.2 × 50.8 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Indian Rope Trick, 2016

Oil on canvas, 30 × 20 inches (76.2 × 50.8 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, The Queen, 2015 Oil on canvas, 60 × 43 ½ inches (152.4 × 110.5 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, The Queen, 2015

Oil on canvas, 60 × 43 ½ inches (152.4 × 110.5 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Joe Writes Lyrics, 2014 Oil on canvas, 36 × 24 inches (91.4 × 61 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Joe Writes Lyrics, 2014

Oil on canvas, 36 × 24 inches (91.4 × 61 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Sharon Tate, 2020 Oil on canvas, 24 × 20 ½ inches (61 × 52 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Sharon Tate, 2020

Oil on canvas, 24 × 20 ½ inches (61 × 52 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Atomic Bomb, 2019 Oil on canvas, 96 ⅛ × 72 ⅛ inches (244 × 183 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Atomic Bomb, 2019

Oil on canvas, 96 ⅛ × 72 ⅛ inches (244 × 183 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Abuse of Power Comes as No Surprise, 2020 Oil on canvas, 18 ⅜ × 13 ⅞ inches (46.5 × 35.1 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Abuse of Power Comes as No Surprise, 2020

Oil on canvas, 18 ⅜ × 13 ⅞ inches (46.5 × 35.1 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Young Marilyn, 2020 Oil on canvas, 24 ⅛ × 20 ½ inches (461.3 × 52.1 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Young Marilyn, 2020

Oil on canvas, 24 ⅛ × 20 ½ inches (461.3 × 52.1 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Terra Nova, 2020 Oil on canvas, 12 × 18 inches (30.5 × 45.7 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Terra Nova, 2020

Oil on canvas, 12 × 18 inches (30.5 × 45.7 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Harold Whittles, 2020 Oil on canvas, 16 × 14 ⅜ inches (40.6 × 36.3 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Harold Whittles, 2020

Oil on canvas, 16 × 14 ⅜ inches (40.6 × 36.3 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Warhol and Basquiat, 2021 Oil on canvas, 36 × 36 inches (91.4 × 91.4 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Warhol and Basquiat, 2021

Oil on canvas, 36 × 36 inches (91.4 × 91.4 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Marlon Brando, 2020 Pencil on paper mounted on canvas, 24 × 19 ½ inches (61 × 49.4 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Marlon Brando, 2020

Pencil on paper mounted on canvas, 24 × 19 ½ inches (61 × 49.4 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Larry Gagosian/Jean-Michel Basquiat, 2019 Pencil on paper mounted on canvas, 24 ¼ × 19 ¾ inches (61 × 49.4 cm)© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

Damien Hirst, Larry Gagosian/Jean-Michel Basquiat, 2019

Pencil on paper mounted on canvas, 24 ¼ × 19 ¾ inches (61 × 49.4 cm)
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2022. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

About

Art and fame together are like a desire to live forever. 
—Damien Hirst

Marking the opening of the new gallery in Gstaad, Gagosian is pleased to present Myths, Legends and Monsters, an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Damien Hirst. Produced over the past fifteen years, these works have not previously been exhibited.

Myths, Legends and Monsters (2007–) is a series of monochromatic oil paintings that depict legendary artistic, political, and pop-cultural personalities including Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Bowie, Sharon Tate, and Andy Warhol. Reconsidering what makes such figures lastingly iconic, Hirst calls into question contemporary notions of celebrity and identity, influence and notoriety. The series’ subjects are all complex individuals—far from being straightforward heroes or villains, they possess aspects of all three elements of the title. “I tried to represent humanity—or, often, a lack of it—in all its facets,” Hirst explains.

By rendering the subjects of Myths, Legends and Monsters in black and white, Hirst introduces a powerful aura of nostalgia to the project, a persistent suggestion of fading memories and times past. He also establishes a striking contrast with the intense and varied color on display in other well-known bodies of his work such as the extensive Spot Paintings series and, more recently, the Veil paintings. “I felt a need to let the color drain away,” he notes, “and explore something more binary.” The exhibition’s pencil drawings, made after the paintings but of equal significance to the artist, underscore this exclusive focus.

Read more