The Heavenly Butterflies of Damien Hirst

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The introduction of Western contemporary art into the Far East market is an important event. The Korean house Seoul Auction is one of the pioneers of this trend which hopefully shall be sustained.

At the sale of last May, the star had been Tranquility by Damien Hirst, a mixed technique of 2008 based on butterfly wings and colored gloss, 231x323x13 cm, sold 12 MHK$ before fees (13.3 MHK$ including premium).

It is likely that the mystical mood, well known and often discussed, of Hirst interested fans in the Far East: indeed a work of the same technology is making the cover of the sale of Hong Kong in October 7. Dating from 2006, this canvas 292x244 cm is domed. Considering also the brilliant colors of insects, it returns dramatically to the stained glass of the cathedrals. The press release indicates the estimate: 18 MHK$. It is entitled The Importance of Elsewhere, The Kingdom of Heaven.

In some countries, this technique had been controversial. However, collectors of butterflies have never been criticized, but what shocks the friends of insects is probably the number of individuals needed to produce a work of great dimensions.

Still bigger: in London on October 13, 2007, Phillips de Pury sold £ 4.7 million charge included Eternity, 213x533 cm.

Here is the link to the press release, with a photo of the work, shared by AuctionPublicity.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Seoul Auction sold 15.5 MHK$ including premium this work by Hirst. The lower estimate is not reached, but the result is encouraging.

The art market is global.