“Hirst juxtaposes religious imagery with the clinical beauty of pharmaceuticals and the brutal realism of medical procedure”

The eternal themes of mortality and faith, combined with a fascination with science and technology, have been central to the practice of Damien Hirst since he first came to prominence a quarter of a century ago. These preoccupations converge in New Religion, where Hirst juxtaposes religious imagery with the clinical beauty of pharmaceuticals and the brutal realism of medical procedure. Brought together, the elements in New Religion present a contemplation of the fragility of life and the endless quest for longevity.

‘‘I was thinking that there are four important things in life: religion, love, art and science…Of them all, science seems to be the one right now. Like religion, it provides the glimmer of hope that maybe it will be all right in the end.’’

-Damien Hirst on New Religion, 2006