To celebrate Frieze London 2021, Annabel’s has joined forces with iconic British Artist Damien Hirst to showcase an exclusive presentation of previously unseen works curated by Hirst himself. Members and guests will be able to discover Hirst’s incredible sculptures displayed throughout the private Members Club until October 24th, celebrating culture and creativity in the heart of London’s most iconic Member’s Club.
Annabel’s distinctive interiors provide the perfect setting to complement Hirst’s Gold and Silver sculptures from ‘Treasures’. First debuted in 2017, Hirst has curated a selection of unseen pieces from the series for this private presentation. The collection presents sculptural relics from a fictional shipwreck off the coast of East Africa, playing fast and loose with linear time, cultural origin, and perceptions of relative status and value. Foregrounding these sculptures against an intricately woven tale of seafaring exploits, marine excavation, and laborious research, Hirst aims to invoke feelings of wonder at their meticulous physical and conceptual fabrication. Works such as ‘Chinese Elephant’ and ‘Cat (Egyptian)’ pay homage to the opulence of the Annabel’s rooms and the animal theme, which is evident throughout the Club. Sparking unexpected interactions between ancient and modern, Hirst’s ‘Treasures’ exemplifies the idea of mythmaking that lies at the core of culture, both high and low.
In the reception, Guests are greeted by the powerful formaldehyde artwork ‘Peace’ (2009, Glass, painted aluminium, silicone, acrylic, stainless steel, dove and formaldehyde solution). Seven further works of art can be discovered throughout the Club, from ‘Hathor’ exhibited on the mantlepiece in the Rose Room, and Hirst’s playful ‘Minnie’ and ‘Goofy’ sculptures carved out of pink Portuguese marble and encrusted with colourful blooms of skilfully painted barnacles, welcome guests at the entrance.
Since the late 1980’s, Damien Hirst has used a varied practise of installation, sculpture, painting and drawing to explore the complex relationship between art, life and death. Hirst’s work investigates and challenges contemporary belief systems and dissects the tensions and uncertainties at the heart of human experience.
“Art’s about life and it can’t really be about anything else … there isn’t anything else”
Damien Hirst
Continuing Annabel’s legacy for celebrating culture, fine art and opulence since its foundation in 1963, the partnership with Damien Hirst toasts to the Club’s creative heritage presenting one of England’s most acclaimed contemporary artists to their Members and guests this October.
