Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
VISKEN 5 (Baby Blue)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
VISKEN 5 (Baby Blue) is a 2014 polyurethane resin sculpture with ink pigment, editioned at 30 and measuring 30 x 29 x 7.5 cm. Numbered, signed and dated in the cast and published by Paul Stolper Gallery, it presents a rounded pill form in a soft baby-blue colorway, issued as a named color variant within the series.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Polyurethane resin with ink pigment. Edition of 30. Numbered, signed and dated in the cast. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered; dated. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The named colorway signals that Hirst treats the pill as a design object whose palette is as considered as any painting. The gentle baby-blue tone softens the clinical subject, heightening the tension between the reassurance a pill promises and the deeper questions about mortality and faith that run through Hirst's pharmaceutical work.
Collector Perspective
This resin pill is flatter and more disc-like than the capsule multiples, and its identity is tied to the specific baby-blue colorway. In an edition of 30, collectors should confirm the color variant matches the numbered impression. Cast-in signing, numbering and dating authenticate it; resin surface and pigment integrity are the main condition considerations.
Historical Context
Within the 2014 Paul Stolper resin series, several works were issued in named colorways, letting collectors select among palettes of the same pharmaceutical form. This mirrors Hirst's earlier practice across spot and pill imagery, where color permutations multiply a single motif into a family of distinct, collectible variants.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned sculpture / object
- Release date
- 2014
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Sculpture; catalog dimensions 30 x 29 x 7.5 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Polyurethane resin with ink pigment. Edition of 30. Numbered, signed and dated in the cast.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered; dated. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Damien Hirst's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Within the 2014 Paul Stolper resin series, several works were issued in named colorways, letting collectors select among palettes of the same pharmaceutical form. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2014 and attributes the edition to Paul Stolper Gallery.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Paul Stolper Gallery. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Damien Hirst — official site — Damien Hirst studio (Science Ltd.) · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Damien Hirst — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Damien Hirst (Q294326) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What does the Baby Blue designation mean?
It identifies the specific colorway of this resin pill; the work was issued as a named color variant.
What are its dimensions?
It measures 30 x 29 x 7.5 cm, giving it a flatter, disc-like form compared with the capsule sculptures.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 30, each numbered, signed and dated in the cast.
Who published it?
Paul Stolper Gallery, as part of Hirst's 2014 resin pill series.
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