Albertina Modern - Damien Hirst

Albertina Modern-Damien Hirst Albertina Modern, Vienna

Damien Hirst is one of the most important artists of the present, who has found international recognition with his paintings, sculptures and installations. However, the drawings of the British artist, which the Albertina Modern now presented for the first time in a museum, are less well known. This exhibition offers a fascinating insight into Hirst's creative processes, starting with drawings and sketches that have been created since the 1980s. These images, many of which were taken in preparation for his groundbreaking works, are shown together with a selection of related sculptures and paintings.

A focus of the exhibition is Hirt's conceptual approach to the drawing that he uses in different ways - sometimes as a first study for a larger work, sometimes as an autonomous work that stands for itself, and sometimes as a retrospective exploration of ideas after completion. Kuntwerk. For many of his best -known series, he used drawings to articulate ideas that he considers as significant as the finished works of art itself.

An important highlight of the exhibition is Hirst's ambitious project treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable and questions of historical stories. The exhibition includes a collection of drawings from this project that take up the visual language of classic studies and archaeological documentation.

In addition, the Hirst's exhibition Making Beautiful Drawings will show that was originally developed in 1994. This unique work is a specially made drawing machine that creates works of art with the help of a rotating disc that colors are applied. The visitors to Albertina Modern will have the opportunity to interact with this machine, to reflect the spirit of the original presentation and to deal directly with Hirst's exploration of chance and process in art.

In the exhibition, various Spin Drawings are to be seen, some of which have been created with this character machine and fascination for repetitions, sample and Explore the interaction of control and chance. In addition to drawings, the exhibition also shows a selection of sculptural works from Hirst's best known series, including Natural History and treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable , which put his work across different media in another context. This groundbreaking exhibition in Albertina Modern offers a new perspective on Hirst's artistic vision and throws a new light on the basic role of the drawing in his work.

The exhibition can be seen from May 7th to October 12, 2025 in Albertina Modern