damien hirst unearths 'treasures from the wreck of the unbelievable'

across 5,000 square meters of museum space uniting venice’s palazzo grassi and punta della dogana, damien hirst reveals the monumental project he’s been working on for almost 10 years. ‘treasures from the wreck of the unbelievable’ is hirst’s most ambitious and complex project to date. the exhibition revolves around the narrative of a fictional, ancient ship wreck called the ‘unbelievable’, and reveals the underwater discovery of its precious cargo.

hydra and kali discovered by four divers
photo by christoph gerigk | all images © damien hirst and science ltd. all rights reserved, DACS/SIAE 2017

hirst posits that the collection of objects belonged to a freed slave named aulus calidius amotan — a legendary figure known for his vast fortune. amotan’s priceless collection included sculptures, jewels, coins and goods from every corner of the globe. on its journey to asit mayor, a temple dedicated to the sun, the ship sank, leaving its precious cargo at the bottom of the sea.

demon with bowl (exhibition enlargement)
photo by prudence cuming associates

hirst’s historical drama unfolds across palazzo grassi and punta della dogana in venice, displaying the objects found during the ‘underwater excavation’. curated by elena geuna, the exhibition includes coral-covered statuettes of mythological figures, larger-than-life sized remnants of stone sculptures, and a collection of vessels from the wreck, alongside photographic documentation of the subaquatic expedition.

(left to right) hydra and kali (two versions), hydra and kali beneath the waves (photography christoph gerigk)
photo by prudence cuming associates