Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst’s landmark images to help London bounce back from coronavirus

Turner Prize-winning artist creates 12 images to promote sale of rainbow heart design prints launched this week

Oliver Poole
Thursday 21 May 2020 18:48 BST
Comments
Buckingham Palace digitally enhanced by Damien Hirst
Buckingham Palace digitally enhanced by Damien Hirst (Alamy)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Damien Hirst has created a series of images showing the rainbow heart design he made for our Help The Hungry appeal superimposed on to British landmarks.

The Turner Prize-winning artist made the 12 images to help promote the sale of limited-edition prints of the rainbow heart design that was launched this week and ends at midnight on Monday.

Mr Hirst also announced that the 12 images will be turned into postcards that will be sold to raise money for charity. They will go on sale shortly.

“It’s great to be able to help people in need by creating digital images, especially since most people aren’t allowed out in the world during the lockdown,” he said.

“I’ve made the postcards so that everyone has a chance to own one, and all the profits will be donated to charity.

“It feels right to show what can be done from a lockdown situation with a bit of computer magic and lateral thinking.”

The images show the butterfly heart design, which was created by the artist for our appeal as a symbol of “solidarity and hope”, being superimposed on buildings in London and across the country, including the Tower of London, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

Tower Bridge emblazoned with Hirst’s design
Tower Bridge emblazoned with Hirst’s design (Alamy)

The limited-edition print of the rainbow butterfly image can be purchased in two sizes, priced at £300 and £1,000. The larger version of the image, which is filled with butterflies, one of Mr Hirst’s motifs, is 70cm by 72.7cm and the smaller one is 35cm by 36.4cm.

Westminster Abbey is included in the list of landmarks
Westminster Abbey is included in the list of landmarks (Alamy)

The funds raised will go to our appeal partner, The Felix Project, London’s biggest surplus food distributor.

The number of editions ordered before sales close on Monday will determine the final size of the edition. Each edition will then have its own unique number and be digitally signed on a label behind the work.

Evgeny Lebedev on the 'Help the Hungry' campaign

The Independent is encouraging readers to help groups that are trying to feed the hungry during the crisis – find out how you can help here. Follow this link to donate to our campaign in London, in partnership with the Evening Standard

How to buy

The two versions of the butterfly heart print are available to buy through Heni Editions here.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in