Damien Hirst, H4-6, Kew, 2018

Diasec-mounted Giclée print on aluminum panel

36.25 x 49.75 in | 92 x 126 cm

Rich layers of yellow, green and blue, accented by splashes of red and white, characterise Damien Hirst’s ‘Kew’, from his ‘Veils’ (H4) series. Published in 2020, the present work is a vibrant edition which captures sensuous details from Hirst’s ‘Veil Paintings’ (2017). Recalling the artist’s iconic ‘Spot Paintings’ and ‘Visual Candy’ series, the ‘Veil Paintings’ embrace colour and artistic gesture on a large scale. The series is a continuation of Hirst’s investigation of colour relationships, intended to celebrate “colour and chaos in a big way”.

‘Kew’ is named for the Royal Botanical Gardens located in London’s eponymous district, a choice that deliberately suggests abstracted botanical imagery as the subject of the print. The pure, rich colours layered thickly upon the canvas in strokes recollective of Pointillism mimic the lush colour of flowers in bloom, conveying a sense of vibrancy and life.

Layers upon layers of thickly applied paint appear to recede away from the viewer, creating an image that is both an impenetrable surface and, seemingly, a window offering a glimpse into another world. ‘Kew’ captures this effect and enhances it further, the print medium effectively adding another layer of abstraction to Hirst’s veil.