The Empresses Damien Hirst

Purchase The Empresses- H10-5 Taytu Betul Pop Street Artwork Limited Edition Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet by Urban Graffiti Modern Artist Damien Hirst. 2022 Signed & Numbered In Verso on Label Limited Edition of 2814 Artwork Size 39.37x39.37 Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet Taytu Betul is a captivating composition filled with a thrilling sense of velocity and motion, inspired by the formidable Ethiopian Empress. When she married Emperor Menelik in 1889, Taytu Betul (c. 1851-1918) became the Empress of Ethiopia, known for her active leadership and unwavering opposition to imperialism. She staunchly refused any negotiations that would lead to the loss of Ethiopian territory. Taytu Betul also established Addis Ababa, which remains Ethiopia's capital city to this day. The artwork's focal point is the striking pairs of red and black wings that form the foundation of the composition - a spiral that originates at the center and expands outward, seemingly beyond the picture plane. The energy and movement generated in the piece reflect the fervor and commitment of Taytu Betul, who led her army to protect their borders. Complementing the central wings, an array of differently sized, colored, and patterned wings create a secondary layer that accentuates the main action. Taytu Betul distinguishes itself in the series with its spirited attempt to portray butterflies in their authentic, living state. The composition evokes an aerial perspective, enabling viewers to gaze down upon the swarm of butterflies as their momentum is captured in the spiral and the dynamic unfolding of the artwork. 

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Purchase The Empresses- H10-4 Suiko Pop Street Artwork Limited Edition Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet by Urban Graffiti Modern Artist Damien Hirst. 2022 Signed & Numbered In Verso on Label Limited Edition of 3310 Artwork Size 39.37x39.37 Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet Suiko, a captivating composition, embodies the essence of life in numerous ways and is named after Japan's first documented empress. Although folklore suggests that several women had ruled before Empress Suiko (554-628 CE), her ascension to power following the assassination of her brother Sushun in 592 CE challenged the tradition of male rulership. Suiko is recognized for the Chinese and Korean influences she introduced to Japan, such as the adoption of the Chinese calendar, the arrival of Chinese and Korean artisans, and most notably, the establishment of Buddhism. In the artwork, variously sized paired wings radiate from the center, forming a symmetrical, concentric circle that mirrors Buddhist symbolism and the cycle of life. This circular pattern is strikingly accentuated by shimmering diagonal red lines that extend from the center to each corner. Set against a red backdrop, these lines intersect the pairs of detached wings, seemingly passing through where the bodies once resided. As with every piece in this series, Suiko presents a continuous metamorphosis, with the butterflies appearing to move and evolve the longer one observes the work. While the details are best appreciated up close, from a distance, the composition assumes a new vitality. From this perspective, Suiko unveils a swelling configuration of wings, organized around the central concentric circles and enhanced by additional external wing arrangements. This composition bears a resemblance to biological or molecular structures, reminiscent of the living organisms it portrays.

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Purchase The Empresses- H10-1 Wu Zetian Pop Street Artwork Limited Edition Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet by Urban Graffiti Modern Artist Damien Hirst. 2022 Signed & Numbered In Verso on Label Limited Edition of 2853 Artwork Size 39.37x39.37 Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet At the core of 'Wu Zetian', a vibrant artwork inspired by the cunning and effective Chinese ruler, lies a unique arrangement of butterfly wings. Wu Zetian (624-705 CE) ascended to power as empress in 655 CE when she married Emperor Gaozong. Her reign witnessed brutal eliminations of political opponents but also stabilized the Tang Dynasty during a critical period. The central element of the piece is a solitary set of butterfly wings encircled by pairs of wings, forming a striking and symmetrical hexagonal pattern. The composition emphasizes the number six, a recurring symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture. Additionally, the hexagon symbolizes the six directions (North, South, East, West, Heaven, and Earth), signifying completeness, harmony, and balance. These notions reflect Wu Zetian's rule, marked by her intelligence, courage, and firm decision-making. Elaborate red-winged butterfly arrangements fill the canvas's four corners, featuring a seamless interplay between singular and paired wings. This complex composition lends an alluring dynamism to the artwork, creating an impression of perpetual change and imbuing the butterflies with a lifelike sense of movement. 'Nūr Jahān' is another artwork featuring intricate patterns of single or paired butterfly wings, rendered in stunning red and black hues. The symmetrical designs radiate from the center, forming mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic patterns. At the heart of the composition lies a focal square that encloses the central set of wings, drawing the viewer's eye inward. This refined configuration echoes the architectural mastery of Nūr Jahān and the exquisite mosaic tiles adorning the Agra tomb. A continuous metamorphosis characterizes the arrangement of 'Nūr Jahān'. As viewers observe the artwork and shift their position, they uncover new sequences of extraordinary wing patterns. The large black and red pairs encircling the composition create a distinctive, uneven frame. This imbues the structured composition with a sense of energy and vitality, capturing the butterflies in a moment of multidirectional flight.

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Purchase The Empresses- H10-2 Nūr Jahān Pop Street Artwork Limited Edition Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet by Urban Graffiti Modern Artist Damien Hirst. 2022 Signed & Numbered In Verso on Label Limited Edition of 3041 Artwork Size 39.37x39.37 Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet Drawing inspiration from the multifaceted Mughal empress, Nūr Jahān (1577-1645), the artwork embodies her diverse talents and influence. Though she became Emperor Jahāngīr's 20th wife in 1611, she was never officially an empress. Despite this, Nūr Jahān demonstrated her power by minting coins and issuing royal decrees. Adept in diplomacy, hunting, and advising, she was also a gifted architect. Her design contributions to her parents' tomb in Agra are thought to have inspired the iconic Taj Mahal. The piece titled "Nūr Jahān" showcases intricately symmetrical patterns of single and paired wings in vivid shades of red and black. These wings radiate from the center, extending vertically, horizontally, and diagonally to form mesmerizing kaleidoscopic designs. The central square structure highlights the principal pair of wings, while the surrounding patterns seem to recede, drawing the viewer's attention to the center. This meticulous, layered composition echoes Nūr Jahān's architectural prowess and the magnificent mosaic tiles that grace the Agra tomb. As one contemplates "Nūr Jahān," the artwork appears to transform continuously, unveiling new sequences of extraordinary wing patterns as the viewer's perspective shifts. This is especially evident with the large black and red wing pairs that encircle the composition's outer edges, arranged in an irregular frame. Through this technique, the artist instills a sense of dynamism and life in the otherwise orderly composition, capturing the essence of the butterflies in various stages of flight, much like the multifarious nature of the empress herself.

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Purchase The Empresses- H10-3 Theodora Pop Street Artwork Limited Edition Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet by Urban Graffiti Modern Artist Damien Hirst. 2022 Signed & Numbered In Verso on Label Limited Edition of 3315 Artwork Size 39.37x39.37 Giclee & Giltter Screenprint Print on Aluminum Sheet Incredibly intricate and dynamic, 'Theodora' pays homage to the influential Byzantine empress who used her intellect and acumen to bring about enduring transformation within the empire. Born to the most humble class in Byzantine society, Theodora (497-548 CE) ascended to power in 527 CE after marrying Emperor Justinian. She made a lasting impact on the region, primarily by enacting new religious and social policies. Theodora's influence over the empire led many to question whether it was she, rather than Justinian, who held the reins. In 'Theodora', an absorbing asymmetrical pattern is formed from red and black butterfly wings, making it the only piece of its kind in the series. Shimmering red lines, visible only up close, bisect the composition both vertically and horizontally, dividing it into halves and thirds, and forming a circle in the upper portion. The lower horizontal band, the circle, and the vertical line stand out most prominently, evoking the female gender symbol. This symbolism harks back to some of Theodora's groundbreaking policies that improved the lives of women, such as banning the trafficking of young girls and revising divorce laws to grant women greater rights. 'Theodora' distinguishes itself through its orchestrated disorder, with wings positioned individually or in pairs throughout the piece. The meticulous asymmetrical arrangement generates the visual impression that these wings are not inert specimens displayed for the viewer's delight but rather, living creatures pulsating with energy, caught in motion as they traverse (and seemingly beyond) the depicted space.

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