Damien Hirst Archives

ARTIST ROOMS

This month we will be visiting the long-awaited ARTIST ROOMS exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art to see the work of Vija Celmins, Ellen Gallagher, Damien Hirst, Alex Katz, Andy Warhol and Francesca Woodman.

ARTIST ROOMS is an extraordinary collection of international contemporary art recently acquired jointly by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate through the donation of over 700 works from Anthony d’Offay which will tour a wide range of museums and galleries across the UK. At the heart of ARTIST ROOMS is the concept of individual rooms devoted to particular artists, so that their work can be seen and appreciated in depth.

Highlights of the exhibition on show at the Gallery of Modern Art include Celmin’s beautiful, delicate images of seas, deserts and the night sky; a complete series of landscape and portrait paintings by the American painter Alex Katz; Francesca Woodman’s intimate, surrealist-influenced photographs; and Damien Hirst’s iconic Away from the Flock – an early example of Hirst’s animals in formaldehyde.

Joining us to discuss the works will be Keith Hartley, Chief Curator at the Gallery of Modern Art. Keith was instrumental in negotiating with Anthony d’Offay to secure this important acquisition so it will be a fascinating insight into how it all came about.

Anatomy Acts

This month, Spin: Edinburgh will visit Anatomy Acts, a comprehensive exhibition fusing art, science, history and medicine. There are over 160 exhibits on loan from a vast array of museums and universities across Scotland. We will be focusing on the contemporary selection, which includes specially commissioned work by Christine Borland, Joel Fisher and Claude Heath.

Joining us will be the exhibitions curator, Dr Andrew Patrizio, who will provide a valuable insight into the commissioned works that each present a unique view of this absorbing subject matter.

Patrizio’s selection is far more urbane than Gunther Von Hagen’s Bodyworlds and less sensationalist than Damien Hirst’s Hymn. We will have the chance to discuss the inspiration provided by the world of art and science which makes these works so exciting.