Damien Hirst’s work challenges the boundaries that exist between art, science and popular culture. Here Beautiful, Beautiful Day references the artist’s Butterfly Paintings, as different breeds of these insects are scattered across the surface plane of the image. Bright yellows, greens and reds seem to pulse against the deep-blue background.

Hirst began making ‘Butterfly Paintings’ in 1991, when he exhibited his first solo show In and Out of Love at White Cube, London. The exhibition was spread over two floors, where an exciting process of transformation took place: upstairs, pupae were attached to white paintings as butterflies actively hatched during the opening; downstairs, dead butterflies became scattered upon colourful canvases. The full lifecycle of these butterflies unfolded during the opening, resulting in a spectacular and memorable performance.