Damien Hirst's London Studio Recreated in Seoul for Major Retrospective

Damien Hirst's studio in London has been meticulously reconstructed at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul for his largest Asian solo exhibition to date. Titled 'Nothing Is True But Everything Is Possible', the retrospective spans over 35 years of Hirst's career with more than 50 works, including installations, sculptures, and paintings. Key series on view are the formaldehyde-preserved animals of 'Natural History', 'Spin Paintings', 'Medicine Cabinets', and the platinum skull 'For the Love of God' (2007) adorned with over 8,500 diamonds. The exhibition runs until the end of June 2026. A chronological journey begins with Hirst's early wood collages from 1984–1986, predating his breakthrough 1988 show 'Freeze', and includes a recreation of the 'Pharmacy Restaurant', first conceived in 1992. The studio reconstruction features the original paint-stained floor transported from London, along with about 30 unfinished canvases from Hirst's ongoing 'River' series, inspired by a Henri Matisse work at the Centre Pompidou. Hirst hand-painted 'I love Korea' on a mirror before the opening. Curator Song Soo-jung notes the MMCA invested over two million dollars to secure this 'indispensable contemporary art icon', aiming to present Hirst at an opportune moment. The museum is praised for the exhibition's high-quality selection and installation.