Damien Hirst: Drawings at Albertina Modern in Vienna

The Albertina Modern in Vienna presents 'Damien Hirst: Drawings', running until October 12, 2025. Curator Elsy Lahner emphasizes Hirst's role as a storyteller, with the exhibition focusing on the preparatory phase behind his iconic installations. It features drawings and sketches from the 1980s onward, alongside sculptures and paintings they inspired. Hirst views drawing as both initial studies and autonomous works, sometimes created after a piece is completed. Highlights include 'Treasures from the Wreck of the Incredible', which blurs reality and fiction, and 'Making Beautiful Drawings' (1994), a drawing machine visitors can operate. Preparatory drawings for works like 'Away From the Flock' and 'For the Love of God' are also on view. The article also mentions Hirst's recent provocation: a hypothetical instruction manual for reproducing his works after his death, raising questions about art's value and originality.