PROVENANCE
Private Collection Auckland Purchased in London, 2008

In the kaleidoscopic screenprint Entreaty, a tondo of jewel-like tones brings to mind a stained-glass window. Intricate layering of colour on the individual wings, and the gradual descending of the butterflies adds depth, mastering the three-dimensionality of glass facets. In creating this effect, Hirst extends the capabilities of the screenprint medium beyond its usual two-dimensional bounds.

As Hirst's works unfold, their seemingly flawless beauty comes under question. What appears to be a perfectly symmetrical image, actually consists of multiple inconsistencies and irregularities. Under a microscopic gaze, the butterflies reveal blemishes and tears in their delicate wings, as they surely would in nature. In relinquishing the pristine ordering of the wild insects, and in including their imperfections rather than concealing them, these works show Hirst to welcomingly surrender to the nature of things.

Hirst revisited the theme of butterflies in an installation at London's Tate Modern in 2012. Two windowless rooms were filled with live butterflies, brought in daily by the butterfly expert from London's Natural History Museum and swept up by the museum staff when they perished. While some viewers were distressed that the butterflies were not in their natural habitat, others appreciated the opportunity to contemplate the fragility of life. As one viewer commented, There's a terrific poignancy about them because their lifecycle is so short and they are vulnerable and delicate.