Damien Hirst ‘The Empresses – Theodora’ Limited Edition
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Details
Medium: Acrylic on board layered with glitter resin
Format: Original
Size: 39 x 39″
Signed: Yes, by the artist
Condition: Excellent
‘The Empresses’ series (H-03, 2022) represents a new chapter in Damien Hirst’s ongoing exploration of the butterfly as a conceptual symbol of freedom, religion, life, and death.
This is one of five in a series consisting of laminated Giclée prints on aluminium composite, enhanced with glitter through screen printing. Each print features images of red and black butterfly wings, meticulously arranged into a unique, kaleidoscope-like pattern. The carefully positioned wings create an illusion of movement, transforming the patterns and making each print appear to capture the butterflies in various stages of flight.
The five piece series pays homage to five major historical female figures from around the world that have often been sidelined in order to highlight the achievements of their male counterparts. Not only does the metaphor of the butterfly represent complex themes of metamorphosis, but also expresses the return of these five women into the western historical canon as icons of progress and leadership that until now have been largely overlooked.
The Empress Theodora (c.490 – 548 AD) is generally known for being the wife of Emperor Justinian, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. However, Theodora played a key role in Justinian’s progressive political amendments and she is now being rewritten into history to acknowledge her own triumphs.
Coming from humble origins, Justinian transgressed societal norms in his marriage to Theodora. Although she was not an official ruler, it is universally believed that she had considerable say in his reforms, acting as equal partners to bring about this change. Theodora’s most notable political involvement concerned her advocation for female rights in the Byzantine Empire. Theodora’s policies including the condemning the trafficking of women, enforcing a death penalty for convicted rapists, preventing the killing of women who committed adultery, and expanding female rights and guardianship over their children and property.
Theodora’s power together with her husband unequivocally reformed the Byzantine empire leading to its legendary wealth and prosperity. Theodora is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Oriental Orthodox Church and is known for her iconic portrait depiction in the San Vitale mosaics of Ravenna which were astoundingly ahead of their time. Hirst revives her spirit and triumphs in this contemporary piece, interweaving ancient connotations that continue to pertain to our modern world.
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