Exaudi Domine (diamond dust)

Exaudi Domine is a signed screen print in colours by contemporary artist, Damien Hirst. Produced in 2009, in this print Hirst creates a beautiful pattern out of butterflies. Circles of butterfly wings are arranged delicately, emanating from a white butterfly in the centre of the print. While many of the prints in this series use bright, bold and vibrant colours, the colours in this print are much simpler and lighter, with grey, white and pale lilac dominating the colour composition.

The print is part of Hirst's impressive Psalms series which he started making in 2008. Composed of 150 works, each print in the series is made using butterfly wings on painted canvases. The print’s Latin name refers to a psalm from the Old Testament and the series makes various religious references. The butterfly carries significant spiritual symbolism, representing the resurrection in Christian imagery, and being used by the Greeks to represent the Psyche. Furthermore, the symmetrical arrangement of the circles resonates with the stained-glass windows found in Gothic-style churches. The patterns in the prints are also clearly inspired by the abstract patterns of Buddhist mandalas.

As an artist who is known for producing art that breaks boundaries, the Psalms series reflects how Hirst enjoys exploring the intersection between art, religion and spirituality.