Dimensions

45.7 cm diameter (18 in.)

Provenance

Science Ltd., 14 Welbeck Street, London (Damien Hirst's gallery), reference DHS 1390.

Private Collection.

Sotheby's, Contemporary Art, 12 April 2019.

Condition

In very good condition.

Catalogue Note

Created in 2010, this vibrant circular spin painting belongs to one of Damien Hirst's most iconic and instantly recognisable series. First developed in 1992, the Spin Paintings combine chance, movement and colour into exuberant abstract compositions that have become synonymous with Hirst's practice.

The works are produced by placing paper onto a rapidly rotating spinning machine while layers of liquid acrylic paint are poured onto the surface. As centrifugal force propels the paint outwards, concentric rings, radiating streaks and intricate splashes emerge in patterns that are simultaneously controlled and unpredictable. Although the artist determines the palette and the moment of application, the final composition is created through a collaboration between artistic intention and physical forces, making every work entirely unique.

The seemingly playful process has deeper conceptual roots. By relinquishing complete control over the finished image, Hirst embraces chance as an essential element of creation, challenging traditional ideas of authorship while celebrating spontaneity and energy. The resulting compositions possess an extraordinary visual dynamism, recalling both scientific experimentation and the joyful freedom of childhood creativity.

A characteristic feature of the series is Hirst's use of deliberately exuberant, humorous titles. Each begins with the word "Beautiful" and concludes with "Spin Painting", with a stream of playful words in between that mirrors the uninhibited energy of the work itself. The titles reinforce the sense of exuberance while contrasting with the precision of the finished composition.

This example bears the original label from Science Ltd., Damien Hirst's London gallery, together with its gallery reference number (DHS 1390). The reverse also reveals the artist's large signature through the backing board, while the work remains housed in its original Darbyshire frame from White Lion Street, further enhancing its provenance.

Among Hirst's most celebrated and enduring bodies of work, the Spin Paintings occupy an important place within contemporary British art. Combining vibrant colour, mechanical process and conceptual rigour, they exemplify the artist's continuing fascination with chance, beauty and the transformative possibilities of paint.