He built a name and a fortune with formaldehyde-preserved animals, live butterflies and a rotting cow head.
Now Damien Hirst has returned to his trademark coloured spots to deconstruct Disney’s favourite vermin, Mickey Mouse.
Hirst, who famously employed assembly lines of thousands to produce his unremitting grids of colour, has boiled down Walt’s most famous mascot to 12 spots.
When Damien met Disney
But rest assured… this won’t be funding a second Hirst castle, for proceeds of the sale will go to the charity Kids Company.
Hirst says: “Mickey Mouse represents happiness and the joy of being a kid and I have reduced his shape down to the basic elements of a few simple spots.
“I hope people love it, because it is still instantly recognisable – Mickey Mouse is such a universal and powerful icon.”
The painting will be auctioned at Christie’s in February.