H9-6 Honour
H9-6 Honour
Signed Print
Damien Hirst
Giclée print, 2021
Signed Print Edition of 693
H 120cm x W 96cm
Critical Review
H9-6 Honour is a laminated giclée print on aluminium composite panel by contemporary artist, Damien Hirst. In the centre of the composition are two cherry blossom trees next to each other. The trees are rendered in a combination of thick brushstrokes, gestural lines and delicate spots for the blossoms. Hirst uses a selection of pinks for the blossoms, imbuing the print with a Spring-like feel. The trees are set against a serene pale blue backdrop.
H9-6 Honour is one of eight prints in the H9 The Virtues series. This series, dedicated to the cherry blossom tree, is inspired by Hirst’s love for the trees. He recalls how he remembers seeing his mother paint the trees, as well as how he fondly watched a tree grow and bloom from outside his bedroom window. Hirst likens the cyclical nature of the cherry blossom tree to clocks, as they bloom at the same time every year. He also makes a link between the beautiful flowers, which are only in bloom for a few weeks, and the life cycle, explaining, “cherry blossoms are about beauty and life and death.”
When looked at closely, it is apparent that the blossoms are composed of lots of tiny, carefully arranged spots. The H9 The Virtues series harks back to Hirst’s famous Spots series. The artist is well known for his fascination and experimentation with spots, with his first Spot painting dating back to 1986. Spots have become an integral part of Hirst’s visual language, as seen in H9-6 Honour.
