Damien Hirst: Modern Pointilism

Since the late 1980s, Hirst has returned repeatedly to the dot as a way of investigating colour, structure, repetition, and the balance between individuality and uniformity. What began with his iconic Spot Paintings has evolved across numerous bodies of work, from the precision of his Spot woodcut prints to the expressive, layered compositions of his Virtues series.

The spot represents a unique tension at the centre of Hirst’s work: it is both controlled and unpredictable, systematic yet deeply emotional. In his Spot woodcuts, Hirst emphasises order and precision, arranging carefully considered fields of colour where each individual dot holds equal importance within the larger composition. In contrast, his Virtues series transforms the spot into something more organic and atmospheric, using layered blossoms and bursts of colour inspired by the cherry blossom to explore themes of beauty, impermanence, and renewal.