Psalm 107: Confitemini Domino, 2008

"Psalm 107: Confitemini Domino" is a butterflies and household gloss on canvas painting created by Damien Hirst in 2008. The artwork is signed, titled and dated on verso. The artwork ships framed in a custom contemporary plexi-box frame and has a framed size of 18.75 x 18.75".

“Psalm 107: Confitemini Domino, 2008” is a striking example of Damien Hirst’s celebrated Kaleidoscope series. Measuring 18 inches in diameter, this circular composition is constructed from real butterfly wings set in household gloss on canvas. Arranged in concentric symmetry, the iridescent fragments radiate outward in intricate geometric formation, recalling the rose windows of Gothic cathedrals and the meditative structure of mandalas.

The Kaleidoscope paintings occupy a distinct position within Hirst’s oeuvre. By organizing delicate butterfly wings into mosaic-like patterns, he merges scientific specimen, devotional image, and abstract design. The result is both optical and symbolic. In this work, the title references Psalm 107, “Confitemini Domino,” meaning “Give thanks to the Lord,” anchoring the composition in a tradition of spiritual reflection. Created as part of Hirst’s 2008 Psalms series, the painting deliberately entwines biblical language with the physical remains of once-living creatures, inviting contemplation of faith, mortality, and renewal.

Throughout history, the butterfly has symbolized transformation and the soul. In ancient Greece it was associated with Psyche, and in Christian iconography it represents resurrection and spiritual rebirth. Here, the butterfly serves simultaneously as subject and material. Its wings form a sacred geometry that evokes both religious architecture and natural order. Beauty emerges through repetition and symmetry, while fragility remains visible in each fragment.

Technically, the work marks an evolution from Hirst’s earlier butterfly compositions. Rather than presenting specimens pinned against monochrome grounds, the Kaleidoscopes orchestrate them into precise radial systems. The use of household gloss intensifies the reflective surface, heightening the interplay between material immediacy and devotional resonance.

With its Psalm reference and stained glass effect, “Psalm 107: Confitemini Domino, 2008” is not simply a decorative object but a meditation on transformation and transcendence. This artwork is to be treasured not only for its aesthetic brilliance but for the singular vision it embodies: a vision in which life and death, science and faith, are revealed as inseparable aspects of human experience.