H7-2 Butterfly Rainbow
H7-2 Butterfly Rainbow
Signed Print
Damien Hirst
Giclée print, 2020
Signed Print Edition of 4150
H 24cm x W 50cm
Critical Review
H7-2 Butterfly Rainbow is a laminated giclée print on aluminium composite panel. The print was made by renowned contemporary artist, Damien Hirst. Produced in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, H7-2 Butterfly Rainbow pays homage to the NHS and their tremendous hard work during the pandemic. The print depicts a rainbow, the symbol that has become associated with the NHS and their COVID-19 response.
H7-2 Butterfly Rainbow is part of the H7 series, composed of two print variations produced to show support for the NHS. All profits from the limited edition prints went to the NHS. The prints were created using digital bands of photographed butterfly wings. This technique produces intrigue, pushing the viewer to look closely at the coloured bands to find the butterflies within them.
When looked at closely, it is apparent that the different coloured bands are composed of butterflies. Butterflies are one of Hirst’s most well-known motifs. Butterflies occupy an important role in the artist’s visual language, as seen in the Mandala Paintings and the Kaleidoscope series. Hirst was drawn to butterflies due to the symbolism they carry. The Greeks used butterflies to depict the Psyche and soul and in Christian imagery, butterflies have been used to signify the resurrection.
