Norcamphor

From the outset of his career Hirst was interested in the possibilities of printmaking and the multiple image. The spot paintings he first introduced in 1988 offered a natural subject for printmaking. For the original series of Pharmaceutical paintings, Hirst invented a grid with only one simple rule – for each work all colours could only be used once. As prints, the spots seduce through exuberant colours, although the process itself is technically demanding and labour-intensive, as each spot needs to be inked individually before printing. The titles of each spot print derive from chemical substances used by the pharmaceutical industry.