Preview: Damien Hirst Retrospective @ Tate Modern

"Mother and Child Divided" Photograph: Damien Hirst and Science Ltd/Prudence Cuming Associates

After an unprecedented showing at all eleven worldwide Gagosian Gallery locations of his The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011 exhibition (all of which we toured), Damien Hirst turns his attention to his next major showing, a mid-career retrospective at the Tate Modern. Things have certainly come full circle for the “love him or hate him” British artist as he had famously stated in the past when asked about an exhibition at the very museum – “No way. Museums are for dead artists. I’d never show my work in the Tate. You’d never get me in that place.” Perhaps it’s the most famous YBA realizing that he’s not that young anymore and feeling a sense of mortality for the first time at age 46, but on April 7th Hirst will do just that – put on public display his last 25 years as an artist at the Tate Modern.

The exhibition will be “a map of his life as an artist, not a greatest hits” hence some of his lesser-known earlier work will be seen including the first spot painting, the first spin painting, the first vitrine, the first medicine cabinet as well as some pieces from his student days. To be sure, some of his most famous works will be seen as well including shark in formaldehyde and the For the Love of God sculpture which demonstrate some of the most recognizable themes in his work – “life and death, beauty and horror, as well as the sense of spectacle.”

More preview images after the jump…