Mega-dealer Larry Gagosian has put his best foot forward to inaugurate his new Hong Kong space. Unseen sculptures and paintings by Damien Hirst are on display (until 19 March), including a new version of his highly publicised diamond-encrusted skull. For Heaven’s Sake, 2008, is a life-size human baby skull cast in platinum and encrusted with 8,128 pavé-set diamonds, of which over 7,000 are natural fancy pink diamonds. This was cast from an original skull from Hirst’s own pathology collection. Other developments of Hirst’s familiar iconography include new “Butterfly Fact Paintings”, which capture moments in the lives of different species of butterflies, while real butterflies are locked in metallic paint in a group of 2008-09 paintings. A new series of three diamond cabinets also add sparkle to the Hong Kong space, seven floors up in a temple to high-end retail. The opening marks Gagosian’s 11th gallery in his eighth city.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'What's on: Damien Hirst'