Take a journey beyond disbelief through Damien Hirst’s captivating film ‘Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable’, exclusively on HENI Talks. This exquisitely produced documentary reveals the story behind Damien Hirst's acclaimed 2017 exhibition by the same name at the Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana during the Venice Biennale. Watch as Hirst guides you through the complex layers of one of his most ambitious projects ever produced.
Consisting of more than 189 artworks made over the course of 10 years, the ‘Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable’ exhibition was one of the largest solo shows in history. This monumental exhibition featured works made from an array of precious materials, from gold to malachite, and drawing on a range of ancient cultures for inspiration. The premise of the exhibition was to display incredible objects that were seemingly not made by Damien Hirst, but rather were suggested to be thousands of years old, uncovered from the depths of the ocean in an ancient shipwreck.
Immerse yourself in the parallel history that Hirst has artfully crafted for his exhibition. The treasure trove of sculptural works from the show are said to have been discovered by a diver off the coast of East Africa in 2008, remnants from a 1st century BC ship. Damien Hirst is revealed as the archaeological patron of the ensuing excavation and exhibition of these wonders, and he narrates the exciting journey along with the team of divers, researchers, and archaeologists said to have brought them to land.
The film is an artwork in its own right, providing the fascinating backstory that unites Hirst’s artistic endeavours into a single, ground-breaking exploration of truth, memory, art, and belief. Allow yourself to be drawn into Hirst’s thrilling exploits and watch as the lines between truth and fiction, and life and art, begin to blur. ‘Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable’ is a beguiling film that engages audiences and challenges our view of the world like only Hirst’s art can.