HENI unveils The Kaleidoscopes, a stunning series of limited edition butterfly prints by British artist Damien Hirst, available for a limited period from 24 October to 4 November 2024. With this release, Hirst continues his exploration of the butterfly motif, a hallmark of his career that symbolises transformation, beauty, and the impermanence of life.
The Kaleidoscopes
The Kaleidoscopes comprises five Diasec-mounted Giclée prints on aluminium composite panels, each measuring 85 x 140 cm. Priced at $5,000 plus applicable taxes, each print is an exclusive edition limited to 180 copies, with an additional 20 artist proofs (APs). Each piece is individually numbered and hand-signed by Hirst on the verso, adding a personal touch to these highly sought-after works.
These compositions continue Hirst’s exploration of kaleidoscopic designs, arranging brightly coloured butterfly wings into precise, geometric formations. Vivid backgrounds enhance the dynamic symmetry of the butterfly wings, giving each print a mesmerising, almost hypnotic quality. The butterflies appear as if they are in constant motion, reflecting Hirst's skill in evoking life and vibrancy through static art.
From Victorian Inspiration to Contemporary Mastery
Inspired by Victorian-era tea trays and natural history displays, Hirst's butterfly motif draws on the historical fascination with cataloguing and preserving beauty. The Victorian passion for nature, classification, and the fleeting beauty of butterflies resonates deeply with Hirst's practice, which often blurs the boundaries between art and science. In The Kaleidoscopes, Hirst brings this inspiration into a modern context, echoing the meticulous arrangements of butterflies found in vintage cabinets while transforming them into vibrant, contemporary works.
The concept of capturing transformation, decay, and rebirth through butterflies has been a central theme throughout Hirst’s career, notably displayed in his 1991 installation In and Out of Love at Yale Arts Centre, where viewers could witness live butterflies’ entire lifecycle in real time. This early exploration laid the groundwork for Hirst’s later butterfly works, including his ambitious Kaleidoscope paintings, where thousands of real butterfly wings form complex mandala-like patterns, reminiscent of stained glass or Buddhist mandalas. The Kaleidoscopes editions bring a similar meditative quality, inviting viewers to reflect on life, beauty, and the transcendence of time.
