Damien Hirst to Stage First Major Survey Exhibition in Germany Opening at Muca this Fall

Few contemporary artists draw more attention than Damien Hirst, the proclaimed bad boy of British art. Now in his sixth decade, Hirst has an expansive body of work behind him, covering different mediums and conceptual approaches that are hard to summarize briefly. 

From a diamonds-encrusted skull in The Love of God to a shark preserved in formaldehyde in a tank (Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, 1993), and the show at the 2017 Venice Biennale Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable, Hirst's practice has grown bolder and more provocative over the years. His latest escapade into the NFT world confirms the artist's spirit of innovation with which he approaches each of his pieces, creating resolutely contemporary work that speaks of the present moment. 

Celebrating his achievements of the last several decades, the Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art (MUCA) in Munich has prepared a major survey of his most iconic works, the first to be presented in Germany. 

The Weight of Things

Titled The Weight of Things, the exhibition features over 40 pieces spanning 40 years of the artist's career. It includes installations, sculptures, and paintings, some of which have not been seen before, from Hirst's most iconic series, including Natural History (formaldehyde sculptures), Spin Paintings, Medicine Cabinets, Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable, Cherry Blossoms, and spot and butterfly paintings. 

"Damien Hirst is one of the world's most influential artists; his work has transformed the contemporary art world and ignited the imagination of a generation. We are delighted to welcome him to Munich and to give this important and exciting exhibition its debut at MUCA," said Christian Utz, Founder of MUCA. 

The Retrospective

Born in 1965 in Bristol, Damien Hirst studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College from 1986 to 1989. Since 1987 he has participated in over 300 group shows and 100 solo exhibitions and, in 1995, won the Turner Prize. In 2012, Tate Modern organized his major retrospective, and in 2017 Hirst presented his most complex project to date in Venice. 

"I'm so happy and excited to be invited by Christian and Stephanie Utz to put on this exhibition, The Weight of Things, in Munich, where I have the opportunity to show many of my earlier works through to my later series like works from Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable. And a giant new outdoor spot painting that will be visible from all over the city," said Hirst. 

I'm so pleased to be working on this show and bringing it all together for such a unique and dynamic space at MUCA.

Damien Hirst at MUCA

Throughout his career, Hirst has explored the themes of life, death, science, religion, and beauty. Presented in the exceptional space of MUCA, the selected pieces will convey the full breadth of the artist's practice to viewers and showcase his unique talent.  

The exhibition Damien Hirst: The Weight of Things will be on view at MUCA in Munich from October 26th, 2023. It will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue.

Featured image: Damien Hirst - Myth Explored, Explained, Exploded, 1993. Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd. © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS/ArKmage 2023