Damien Hirst's Praying Monk Appears on Frozen Lake St Moritz

A giant marine-like sculpture by Damien Hirst, titled Praying Monk, has been installed on the frozen lake of St Moritz in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The over 3.5-meter-tall work was transported by helicopter weeks ago and now stands at the center of the lake, traditionally used for trotting races. The installation heralds Mental Escapology, a major solo exhibition by Hirst opening in late January and running until late February 2021. Promoted by gallerist and entrepreneur Marco Voena, it is Hirst's first non-commercial exhibition in Switzerland. The sculpture is part of Hirst's Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable series, first shown in Venice in 2017, which the artist falsely claimed were recovered from a shipwreck. The exhibition is spread across four venues in St Moritz, curated by Jason Beard, and includes 40 works, such as formaldehyde animals from the Natural History series at Forum Paracelsus and Kaleidoscope Paintings at the evangelical church. Hirst has hinted on Instagram that he may return the sculptures to the sea, though his sincerity is uncertain.