In 2014, Damien Hirst (born 1965) unveiled a new series of paintings made up of vast numbers of surgical instruments that combine to form bird's-eye views of cities from around the world. With the Black Scalpel Cityscapes, Hirst investigates subjects pertaining to the sometimes-disquieting realities of modern life--surveillance, urbanization, globalization and the virtual nature of conflict--as well as those relating to the human condition in general, such as our inability to arrest physical decay. Described by the artist as "portraits of living cities," the series is illustrated in full and accompanied by a comprehensive list of artwork details in this signed limited edition, which features a black zipper down the spine. The volume also includes an essay by Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps, and a fictional short story by novelist and arts writer Michael Bracewell.

Visual artist(s): Damien Hirst
Text by: Jerry Brotton, Michael Bracewell