fbpx
Close
Art

Open to the public for two days: Prada presents Damien Hearst’s ‘Pharmacy’ in Dubai

The installation will be open to the public on 11 and 12 November

Unveiled as part of Prada Mode Dubai – a traveling social club that focuses on contemporary culture – the Pharmacy installation by British artist Damien Hearst will be open to the public at ICD Brookfield Place on November 11 and 12, with visitors offered private tours of the immersive artwork.

First revealed in 1992 as a site-specific installation for the Cohen Gallery in New York, it was later recreated as a restaurant interior under the same name in London. The installation explores the human fear of death, commenting on our obsession with delaying death using temporary means. 

“We all die, so this kind of big happy, smiling, minimal, colourful, confident facade that medicine and drug companies put up is not flawless — your body lets you down, but people want to believe in some kind of immortality,” the artist said.

The pharmaceutical industry has been the subject of many of Hearst’s works with this particular reworking of his famed installation featuring walls covered with cabinets filled with various prescription medicines and empty bottles that have all been sourced in the UAE. Much like with the original work, the medicine is arranged in correlation to the human body, with drugs for the head at the top and lotions for the feet at the bottom.

The rest of the space sees a circular bar at the centre covered in images of pills and pharmaceutical equipment, skeletons hanging from the ceiling and models of molecular composition. The artist designed every minute detail of the space, from the specially-made butterfly paintings on the wall, the furniture design as well as the light boxes and wallpaper designs taken from catalogues for prescription medicines.

The exhibition is open to visitors as follows on November 11, Friday, from 12pm until 9pm, and on November 12, Saturday, from 10am until 7pm.

Follow the link to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pharmacy-installation-by-damien-hirst-tickets-450488131127

The Latest

Designing Spaces with Purpose and Passion

We interview Andrea Savage from A Life By Design – Living & Branding on creating aesthetically beautiful and deeply functional spaces

Craft and Finesse

EMKAY delivers a bold and intricate fit-out by transforming a 1,800 sqm space into SUSHISAMBA Abu Dhabi, a vibrant multi-level dining experience

An Impressive Entrance

The Synua Wall System by Oikos offers modularity and style

Drifting into Summer

Perennials unveils the Sun Kissed collection for 2025

The Fold

Architect Rabih Geha’s collaboration with Iwan Maktabi

AYESHA ERKIN

From Floorplans to Foodscapes

For Ayesha Erkin, architecture was never just about buildings, but about how people live, eat, gather and remember

deos mykonos

Between Sea and Sky

Cycladic heritage, heartfelt hospitality and contemporary design converge on Deos Mykonos, designed by GM Architects

A Fresh Take on ’70s Style

Curved shapes and colourful artworks bring vibrancy to this contemporary home with mesmerising nature views

Into the Woods

Perched among the treetops, this serene home’s permanent connection to nature invites dwellers to unplug and unwind

A New Chapter for Dubai – Jebel Ali Racecourse

A.R.M. Holding and BIG unveil visionary masterplan around Jebel Ali Racecourse

Textures at Play

Interior designer Claudia Afshar’s collaboration with Cosentino redefines vertical cladding with nature-inspired textures and a timeless aesthetic