Long-term friends, Rankin and artist Damien Hirst, leverage their respective creative mediums and shared dark wit in a project born out of a joint fascination with the ancient world, and an interest in contextualizing it in a modern environment. Model, Dani Smith, was the inspiration in bringing their shared vision to life. The project is an exploration of imagined narratives and monsters of past civilizations, viewed through a modern lens.

Titled ‘Myths, Monsters and Legends,’ this collaboration between the photographer and the artist enters the world of an imagined sequence of events with monsters of ancient settlements. Albeit they have developed their own respective platforms, both Rankin and Hirst share similar characteristics on a fundamental level. Sourcing their inspiration from model Dani Smith they depict menacing beasts and ethereal bodies based on a mystical era.

Myths and Legends seem to mark a new topical era in Hirst’s work, since he presented two new works titled ‘Myth’ and ‘Legend’ as part of Sotheby’s annual ‘Beyond Limits’ festival displayed on the Chatsworth House grounds in the UK. The two sculptures depict a proud winged horse and a unicorn, and, along with the other sculptures scattered throughout the grounds, are not just on display, but available for purchase. Other artists include Marc Quinn, Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Barry Flanagan and Lynn Chadwick. The works will remain through October 31.

The exhibition ‘Myths, Monsters and Legends’ is scheduled to run from October 13 until November 7, at RANKIN Gallery in Los Angeles, and from October 20 at Annroy Gallery London.

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