XVI: Methyl Isocyanate: Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst
XVI: Methyl Isocyanate
From Poisons + Remedies (2010)
13 ¾ x 11 inches
Published by Gagosian Gallery & Other Criteria
Print (framed)
From Damien Hirst’s hauntingly restrained artist book Poisons + Remedies, Methyl Isocyanate (Plate XVI) stands out as one of the most charged entries in the series. Professionally deconstructed from the original 2010 edition and archivally framed, this framed book print turns a sterile scientific label into a quiet monument to human error and industrial catastrophe.
Infamously associated with the 1984 Bhopal disaster in India, methyl isocyanate is a chemical compound synonymous with mass exposure and irreversible harm. Hirst's stark typographic presentation underscores the emotional void of clinical language, offering no images—just the heavy weight of implication and memory.
Measuring 13 ¾ x 11 inches and preserved in excellent condition, this framed work is a poignant artifact from one of Hirst’s most conceptually rigorous series. A compelling acquisition for collectors drawn to the intersection of art, ethics, and the enduring impact of scientific progress.