Visitors view “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living” at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, during the retrospective exhibition of Damien Hirst, on March 26. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - Damien Hirst (b. 1965) is one of the most influential — and controversial — figures in contemporary art.
He rose to prominence in the late 1980s as a leading member of the Young British Artists (YBAs), a group known for pushing boundaries with shock, spectacle and conceptual rigor.
His works grappling with death and mortality drew strong public interest in Seoul as visitors filled the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul on a weekday afternoon, where the exhibition “Damien Hirst: Truth Is Not Absolute, Everything Is Possible” is on view.
The exhibition, held at MMCA Seoul, feartures around 50 works spanning more than four decades. It is Hirst’s first solo exhibition in Asia and runs from March 20 to June 28.
Visitors wait in line to enter the retrospective exhibition of Damien Hirst at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, on March 26. AJP Yoo Na-hyun. 2026.03.26
Visitors view “Spot Painting” at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, during the retrospective exhibition of Damien Hirst, on March 26. AJP Yoo Na-hyun. 2026.03.26
The show traces the artist’s practice from early experimental works to recent paintings. Major series on display include the Natural History series, featuring animals preserved in formaldehyde, spot paintings composed of repeated dots, and installations resembling medicine cabinets. Works such as a shark suspended in formaldehyde, rows of pharmaceutical objects and canvases filled with colored dots explore themes of life and death, desire and consumption.
Inside the gallery, visitors are seen engaging with the works in different ways. Some pause to observe the artworks closely, while others take photographs. The coexistence of viewing and recording has become a common sight.
This pattern has been observed in recent exhibitions as well. A similar scene appeared during last year’s exhibition of Ron Mueck, which attracted more than 530,000 visitors. Visitors are increasingly choosing their own pace and method of engagement.
MMCA has also expanded its “Culture Day” program. Starting in April, MMCA Seoul and Deoksugung will offer free admission every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Visitors view “For the Love of God” at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, during the retrospective exhibition of Damien Hirst, March 26. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
While Hirst’s works continue to address themes of mortality and contemporary society, audiences are engaging with them in varied ways. Some spend time contemplating the works, while others capture them as images.
The exhibition reflects a broader shift in museum-going. Visitors from different generations and nationalities share the same space, each experiencing the exhibition differently.
The show not only presents Hirst’s works, but also reveals how audiences interact with art today.
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