Artwork Description
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.
