Damien Hirst Draws Over 500,000 Visitors in Seoul — “Last Chance in This Life”
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Damien Hirst’s major solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul has surpassed 500,000 visitors as it nears its final day. Crowds queued for hours to see iconic works gathered for the first time in Asia, including the formaldehyde shark (“The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living”), the diamond-encrusted skull (“For the Love of God”), and the infamous animal-installation “A Thousand Years.” The show’s popularity was fueled both by the rare opportunity to view these landmark pieces in Korea and by controversy surrounding Hirst’s career — criticisms about commercialization and the museum’s choice to host him sparked debate that increased public curiosity. The exhibition, organized in four thematic sections spanning Hirst’s 35-year practice, offered historical context beyond spectacle: early collage and spot paintings, major shock pieces reunited, works critiquing medicine and capitalism (including pharmacy installations), ornate butterfly-based altarpieces, and a recreated London studio with unfinished large-scale “River” paintings. Hirst’s visit and a sold-out artist talk underscored strong interest from young Korean audiences (62% aged 20–30). The show’s mix of provocation, art-historical framing, and media attention helped it challenge previous attendance records and prompt reflection on art, commerce, and spectacle.
