MOCO Museum London has acquired Vandalised Spot Painting (Banbermycin) (2024), a collaborative work by Banksy and Damien Hirst. The painting belongs to a limited group of works jointly created by the two artists.
Works from the limited run, which only consists of five pieces, are held across a small number of international private collections, with MOCO Museum presenting one of the few opportunities for viewers to encounter the work in a public setting.
Vandalised Spot Painting begins as a recognisable Damien Hirst spot painting; seventy-seven coloured dots arranged in a precise grid, each borrowing its title from pharmaceutical naming conventions. In the lower right corner, Banksy has added a stencilled rat, a recurring theme within his practice.
Banksy’s collaboration exists within the established structure of the painting. The rat inhabits Hirst’s ordered system, introducing an alternative presence without dismantling it. The work brings together two contrasting artistic approaches, Hirst’s interest in repetition, control and systems, and Banksy’s use of interruption and social commentary.
The painting sits within a longer exchange between the two artists. In Keep It Spotless (2007), Banksy famously placed a stencilled maid sweeping beneath one of Hirst’s spot paintings. In Banbermycin, the gesture is more understated.
The work is executed in household gloss and spray paint on canvas and signed by both artists. It represents a considered moment of collaboration between two of the most recognisable figures in contemporary art.
The painting has been installed at MOCO Museum London, continuing the museum’s focus on presenting significant contemporary works within a public and accessible context.
Kim Prins, founder of MOCO said, “Artists often spend a great deal of time working alone, developing their ideas in isolation. What I love about this work is the sense of energy that comes from two distinct artistic voices meeting, you can feel the excitement of that exchange, and the respect within the collaboration.”
Artwork Details
Damien Hirst & Banksy
Vandalised Spot Painting (Banbermycin), 2024
Household gloss and spray paint on canvas
132 × 213 cm (52 × 84 inches)
Signed by Damien Hirst and Banksy on verso
