The Action of the World on Things

This stunning collection of etchings come from Hirst's fascinating two-volume portfolio, In a Spin, The Action of the World on Things. Each etching was made by the artist in London in 2002, printed on 350gsm Hahnemuhle paper, proofed and editioned at Hope (Sufferance) Press, London and published by Charles Booth-Clibborn under his imprint, The Paragon Press. There are sixty-eight sets of prints, numbered 1–68 on the colophon page, and six proof copies.

The artist first coined the phrase 'The Action of the World on Things' in 1999, when he was explaining the origin of his spot paintings, differentiating two major strands of his work: ‘an involvement with death and decay, and ideas and life: the action of the world on things exists somewhere, and the colour exists somewhere else. And it’s fantastic.’ (Quoted in Damien Hirst and Gordon Burn, On the Way to Work, London 2001, p.119.) In the event, the imagery of "In a Spin, the Action of the World on Things" unites these two strands.

The complex and lengthy process was characterised by a high degree of physical intervention by the artist, sometimes to a physically dangerous degree as the copper plates, fixed to the spin machine, rotated at alarming speeds. The highly charged spiral lines were drawn with needles, screwdrivers, and other sharp tools as the plate spun. The process of creating these works became a performance-like ritual that continued for numerous days and stretched the etching medium to its limits.

Hirst's Spin paintings and prints are a key part of his oeuvre that chart some of the major turning points in his career. They capture vividly his enthusiastic embrace of abstraction in the 1990s, a development that has been a significant driving force in his work well into the 2020s. The intricate, almost performative nature of their creation speaks to Hirst's reputation as a showman and megastar artist who can reshape the art world seemingly at will.

Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.

See all works by Hirst