Jade Buddha

Buddha is depicted sitting in a meditative position. The enveloping gaze emerging from his half-closed eyelids highlights the relationship of communication and contemplation between a master and his disciple. Carved from a block of jade, the work seems at first glance to come from China, where this variety, called nephrite, was worked from the end of the Neolithic Period, around 3,000-1,500 BC.

Damien Hirst's choice of jade can be explained by the stone’s characteristics: its inalterable colour, texture and translucence make it comparable to earthly and spiritual purity. Confucius associated jade with kindness, wisdom, righteousness, propriety, loyalty and faithfulness.

Jade Buddha was presented for the first time by the Pinault Collection during the 2017 "Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable" show at the Palazzo Grassi.