Damien Hirst - The Light That Shines

The Light That Shines

The Light That Shines, on view at Château La Coste until 23 June, is a major exhibition of work by Damien Hirst. Presented by HENI, the exhibition spans the 500-acre Provence estate and its five exhibition pavilions. The Light That Shines features around 90 sculptures and paintings, including some of Hirst’s most iconic series and some which have never been seen before.

Throughout his prolific career, Hirst has reflected on the relationships between beauty, religion, science, life, and death. He is perhaps best known for his works employing formaldehyde, which he began in the early nineties. Key pieces from this series, titled Natural History, are on view in the Renzo Piano Pavilion.

Sculptures and lightboxes from Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable, a series of works first shown in 2017 across Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi in Venice, are exhibited in the Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium. In the Richard Rogers Gallery, and exhibited for the first time, is a selection of The Empress Paintings, depicting mesmerising compositions of red, black and gold butterfly wings. A selection of Cosmos Paintings and sculptures from the Meteorites and Satellites series are also shown for the first time, in the Old Wine Storehouse designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Hirst showcases vibrant flower paintings from his recent series, The Secret Gardens Paintings, in the Bastide Gallery.

In addition to the works presented in the pavilions, a selection of Hirst’s outdoor sculptures are sited across the estate as part of the exhibition, including at Frank Gehry’s Music Pavilion and the Tadao Ando Art Centre.

The exhibition coincides with an application-based drop of works from three of the series on display, exclusively on HENI Primary. It is presented by HENI, with the support of the artist’s galleries, Gagosian and White Cube.

Exhibition dates: 2 March - 23 June 2024
Opening Hours: Open every day from 11am to 5pm
Location: Château La Coste, 2750 Route De La Cride, 13610 Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, France
Admission: Art and Architecture Walk: Self guided tour is 15€; Guided tour is 25€