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Mark Wallinger: Proteus
HENI is delighted to release Proteus by leading contemporary artist Mark Wallinger, a series of four limited-edition prints based on original works from Wallinger’s commanding Proteus Paintings series. The paintings were made from plasticine, a colourful material rich in its associations with childhood play. The resulting works are polychrome, tactile paintings that each evoke a sense of movement and transformation.
The prints from the Proteus series are identical in scale to the Proteus paintings, reproduced with crisp definition and vivid colour, and printed on paper that is uncannily faithful to the surfaces of the originals.
The Proteus editions are Giclée prints on paper, and each is presented in a walnut frame. The artworks measure 93 x 68.5 cm (framed). All works are hand-signed by the artist on the front and hand-numbered.
Each of the prints is from an edition of 25 (+ 6 APs) and is available by application until 17:00 GMT on 17 November 2025.
About Proteus
In Greek mythology, Proteus was the prophetic figure who could assume whatever shape he pleased. The adjective ‘protean’ describes anyone or anything as mutable and adaptable as Proteus, who came to be regarded as a symbol of the original matter from which the world was created. This idea of creation and adaptability is recalled in Proteus Paintings and Wallinger’s use of malleable plasticine.
"After the months of enforced COVID lockdown in a flat in the centre of London without a garden, I sorely missed the richness and flux and the restorative qualities of being in nature. In the 'Proteus Paintings' I was able to zone in and become absorbed in the small worlds I was creating."
- Mark Wallinger
Reflecting on the process of making Proteus Paintings, Wallinger says, "Because I was inventing the process and reacting to the qualities of this new material, I felt liberated and unencumbered by the weight of art history. I worked on a tabletop on A1-sized, muslin-covered boards. The process was very sculptural – unlike paint, no matter how vigorously the plasticine has been manipulated, the colours retain their integrity, and so the finished work is an index or embodiment of all the myriad forces that had come to play in their making."
The Proteus editions are on display in the windows at 29–35 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AH.
About Mark Wallinger
Mark Wallinger (b. Chigwell, UK, 1959) has created some of the most subtly intelligent and influential artworks of the last forty years. Wallinger is known for his career-long engagement with ideas of power, authority, artifice and illusion. Using epic narratives, lyrical metaphors and ardent punning, the artist interleaves the mythological, the political and the everyday.
His work has dealt with religion, nationalism and class, explored urgent social issues, and pondered Einstein’s theory of relativity and Freud’s concepts of the nature of the human mind. A surprising, inventive and profound artist, whose astonishingly multi-faceted work encompasses painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, film and video, performance and work for the public realm. Maintaining conceptual coherence across media Wallinger poses big questions about identity, and the social, cultural and political power structures that define who we are.
Ecce Homo 1999, a life-sized sculpture of Jesus Christ, was the first work to occupy the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square. Public commissions are central to Wallinger's practice, the most recent being Writ in Water, 2018, a monumental installation to commemorate the sealing of the Magna Carta commissioned by the National Trust for Runnymede, England, and The World Turned Upside Down, 2019, a major sculpture for the London School of Economics. In 2013, Wallinger created Labyrinth, a permanent commission to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground that spans all 272 stations on the network, with two additional Labyrinth commissions in 2023.
Mark Wallinger is one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001 and was awarded the Turner Prize in 2007. His work is part of numerous leading international collections, including Tate, London; MoMA, New York; and Centre Pompidou, Paris.
Timeline
To ensure a fair and broad distribution, the limited edition artworks are being sold on an application basis for a limited time only. Click on the ‘Apply to Buy’ button to get started.
APPLICATION
The application window for this drop is open from 11 until 17 November.
ALLOCATION
HENI will carefully review each application and aims to start notifying successful applicants over the coming weeks after the application period has closed.
DELIVERY
HENI estimates all artworks will ship within 3 months of the application window closing.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you want to get in touch, please contact customer care or ask a moderator on Discord).
HENI releases Proteus by leading contemporary artist Mark Wallinger, a series of four limited-edition prints based on original works from Wallinger’s commanding Proteus Paintings series. The paintings were made from plasticine, a colourful material rich in its associations with childhood play. The resulting works are polychrome, tactile paintings that each evoke a sense of movement and transformation.
The prints from the Proteus series are identical in scale to the Proteus paintings, reproduced with crisp definition and vivid colour, and printed on paper that is uncannily faithful to the surfaces of the originals.
Each of the prints is from an edition of 25 (+ 6 APs) and is available by application exclusively on HENI Editions from 11 November until 17:00 GMT on 17 November 2025.
The Proteus editions are Giclée prints on paper, and each is presented in a walnut frame. The artworks measure 93 x 68.5 cm (framed). All works are hand-signed by the artist on the front and hand-numbered.
In Greek mythology, Proteus was the prophetic figure who could assume whatever shape he pleased. The adjective ‘protean’ describes anyone or anything as mutable and adaptable as Proteus, who came to be regarded as a symbol of the original matter from which the world was created. This idea of creation and adaptability is recalled in Proteus Paintings and Wallinger’s use of malleable plasticine.
"After the months of enforced COVID lockdown in a flat in the centre of London without a garden, I sorely missed the richness and flux and the restorative qualities of being in nature. In the Proteus Paintings I was able to zone in and become absorbed in the small worlds I was creating." – Mark Wallinger
Reflecting on the process of making Proteus Paintings, Wallinger says, "Because I was inventing the process and reacting to the qualities of this new material, I felt liberated and unencumbered by the weight of art history. I worked on a tabletop on A1-sized, muslin-covered boards. The process was very sculptural – unlike paint, no matter how vigorously the plasticine has been manipulated, the colours retain their integrity, and so the finished work is an index or embodiment of all the myriad forces that had come to play in their making."
The Proteus editions are on display in the windows at 29–35 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AH.
You can complete your application for Proteus on a computer or mobile device, after which you will receive a confirmation email detailing each of the editions you applied for. After the allocation period, if your application is successful, you will be sent an order confirmation once payment has been successfully taken.
If you want to get in touch, please contact Customer Care or ask a moderator on Discord.
No, the HENI Vault is not available for Proteus.
As Proteus is a limited-edition release, HENI tries to ensure that the prints are sold broadly and fairly (rather than on a ‘first come, first served’ basis). You can apply for multiple artworks from Proteus, however, HENI cannot guarantee that you will be offered the opportunity to buy every print you apply for.
During the application process it is possible to select “Partial Fulfilment”, and “Alternative Allocation”.
If you selected ‘Yes’ to the “Partial Fulfilment” option during the application process, HENI may offer you the opportunity to purchase some of the editions you applied for, but not all. Choosing “Partial Fulfilment” may increase your chances of being successfully allocated.
If you selected ‘No to the “Partial Fulfilment” option during the application process, HENI will only satisfy your application if we are able to fulfil your entire application.
If you selected the “Alternative Allocation” option during the application process, it means that you are willing to receive an alternative artwork of the same size and price if your original selection isn't available. Choosing “Alternative Allocation” may increase your chances of being successfully allocated.
HENI will carefully review each application and aims to start notifying successful applicants in the coming weeks after the application period has closed.
Proteus is priced in US Dollars and can be purchased using credit or debit card. Please ensure when submitting your payment details that you enter the correct billing post/zip code information for the payment card you are using.
When applying for Proteus you will be asked to provide details of a credit or debit card. HENI will carefully review each application and aims to start notifying successful applicants in the coming weeks after the application period has closed. Only after you have been notified of your successful application will HENI arrange to take payment. HENI will automatically attempt to take payment using the payment method supplied at the time of the application. If this payment method fails, you will be notified by email with a custom payment link that you can use to complete payment. You have 48 hours from the time of the email to complete your payment, otherwise your allocation will be revoked.
Proteus does not come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The edition numbers for each of the works are randomly allocated and cannot be chosen. As with all our drops, the APs are not for sale.
The Proteus editions are on display in the windows at the HENI Gallery 6–10 Lexington St, London W1F 0LB, United Kingdom
HENI aims to dispatch all the artworks within 3 months of the close of the application window. Please note that the exact timing is subject to demand, production capacities and potential shipping delays. As soon as your order is ready to dispatch, you will receive an email confirmation with the tracking information.
To ensure efficient delivery of our editions HENI ships exclusively through our trusted courier partners. Therefore, we are unable to facilitate in-person collection or organise independent shipping.
Proteus will be shipped from the UK and can be shipped internationally. The prices indicated are exclusive of VAT, delivery charges, insurance or any customs or import duties or local taxes that may be payable. For orders shipping to the UK, Standard Rate VAT will be applied and collected at the time of payment.
If your shipping address is outside of the UK, you will be responsible for any customs or import duties and local taxes that may be payable. Where such duties or taxes are payable in respect to any works ordered, HENI does not collect and pay them on your behalf. You are responsible for paying any amounts due directly to the applicable customs authority. HENI is not able to offer any guidance on customs or import duties or local taxes, and we recommend that you contact your local customs office for details.
Should the need arise to change your delivery address, it is possible; however, if you choose to deliver to a different country than initially requested, this could impact the total value of your original order. Please complete and submit the Change of Address Request form and one of our Customer Care advisors will be in touch to confirm.
There are certain countries that HENI cannot ship to. If you would like more information or should you encounter an error during the checkout, please contact Customer Care here.