Pinchuk buys panned Hirst paintings

The Ukrainian steel magnate Victor Pinchuk has bought six paintings by Damien Hirst from the artist’s latest exhibition, “Two Weeks One Summer”, which opened at White Cube in London last May. The canvases—painted by Hirst without the help of assistants—show parrots, skulls, flowers, butterflies and other objects, and are on display in Kiev’s Pinchuk Art Centre, a private space funded by the collector. Five other works from the same cycle are also on show, on loan from White Cube (until 6 January). The paintings were universally panned by critics when they were shown in London, but Pinchuk says he is not troubled by critical assessments. “In 10, 20, 30 years’ time, people will change their mind,” he tells The Art Newspaper. Pinchuk owns one of the largest collection of works by Hirst in the world, having bought many of his pieces from White Cube’s Jay Jopling, who has also sold him works by Antony Gormley, Sam Taylor-Wood, Gavin Turk and Andreas Gursky, among others. Pinchuk is currently planning a show at the centre by the Chapman brothers (also represented by White Cube), which is due to take place later this year. He also owns large groups of work by Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami, bought at auction and from Gagosian Gallery.