Damien Hirst (British, b. 1965)
Virtues Portfolio (8 piece set)
EACH IMAGE Dimensions: 120 x 96 cm
Edition Size: The number of editions produced was limited by time and demand. Each is hand signed by the artist on the label verso and uniquely numbered.
Medium: Laminated Giclée print on aluminum composite panel.
As you may know, the eight “Virtues” prints (Sold as a matched set) are each titled after one of The Eight Virtues of Bushidō according to Nitobe Inazō – Justice, Courage, Mercy, Politeness, Honesty, Honour, Loyalty, Control.
Referencing Impressionism, Pointillism and Action Painting, the Cherry Blossoms are about the spontaneous joy of spring. Damien Hirst said “Cherry Blossoms are about beauty and life and death. They’re extreme – there’s something hopeful yet hopeless about them. They’re art but taken from nature. They’re about desire and how we process love and why we need it, but also these prints are about the momentary, the insane transience of beauty – a tree in full crazy blossom against a clear blue sky. How can you argue with that? It’s been so good to make these prints, to be completely lost in color for a while. Blossoms are optimistic and bright yet fragile, just like we are and I hope that The Virtues can remind us to always try and get the most from life.”
