Curatorial notes
Curator: Damien Hirst's "Orbital", held in the Tate Collections, presents a compelling image. There's something almost meditative about it. Editor: Yes, immediately the process grabs me. Look at the layering, the sheer repetition of marks creating these concentric circles. What materials were used? Curator: It really speaks to Hirst's exploration of life, death, and everything in between. These orbital patterns, they feel like cycles, like the inevitable spinning of the universe. It feels very gender neutral, almost sterile. Editor: Sterile, perhaps, but not without the hand of the artist evident. There's an undeniable labor and control visible in the final composition. I wonder how much of this was done by him versus his assistants? Curator: True, this question of labor and production with Hirst is always relevant. I find the piece also reveals a tension between order and chaos. Editor: An insightful comment. It makes me consider Hirst's role in the commodification of art and the role of the 'artist' as brand. Curator: It’s a poignant point to end on, considering the narrative and layers within Hirst's practice. Editor: Absolutely. A work that certainly allows us to continue to question the making of meaning and labor within it.
