The Power and the Glory: Scholars’ Rocks Meet Nuclear Ruin in Damien Hirst’s Latest Exhibition

Exploring the fragile beauty and brutal force of nature, this electrifying London exhibition balances zen-like serenity with atomic intensity.

Let’s be honest. When you hear “Damien Hirst,” your mind probably jumps straight to pickled sharks or glittering skulls. But his latest curatorial adventure at Newport Street Gallery is something entirely unexpected—and yet, completely on brand. Titled The Power and the Glory, this show is a strange, sublime collision of scholars’ rocks and nuclear-age photography. Trust Hirst to find poetry in plutonium and calm in chaos.

Running from 28 March to 31 August 2025, this free exhibition pulls visitors into a hypnotic dialogue between natural forms and mankind’s obsession with control, destruction, and awe.

Scholars’ Rocks and the Power of Stillness

At first glance, these scholars’ rocks (or gongshi) look like artefacts from a Shoreditch ceramics pop-up—minimal, mystical, and very much at home on your favourite design-led Instagram feed. These natural formations, prized for centuries in East Asia, are admired not just for their curious beauty but for their ability to provoke thought.

In a world addicted to dopamine scrolls, standing still in front of a Taihu stone is almost revolutionary. These rocks are riddled with texture and craters that resemble ancient landscapes or otherworldly portals. They serve as objects of meditation, inviting us to pause, observe, and actually feel something.

Which, let’s face it, we could all do more of—especially in Shoreditch, where the pace is faster than a Dalston DJ set.

Atomic Photographs and the Glory of Destruction

But just when you’re feeling calm and collected, Hirst flips the table. Alongside these zen marvels are terrifyingly beautiful photographs from the atomic age. Think Trinity tests, Bikini Atoll explosions, and sobering images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. You’ll find mushroom clouds suspended mid-eruption, ghostly shadows of obliterated cities, and cold, clinical documentation of humanity’s flirtation with annihilation.

Curated by Connor Hirst, the show doesn’t shout its messages. Instead, it sits you between stillness and detonation and lets your brain do the rest. It’s a visual essay on how humanity manipulates nature—sometimes with reverence, often with recklessness.

The Power and the Glory: Where Nature and Technology Collide

The title isn’t just catchy. The Power and the Glory speaks to the double-edged sword that is human innovation. On one side: rocks collected over centuries to inspire thought. On the other: technology developed over decades to destroy everything in seconds.

It’s a bit like comparing a Shoreditch street mural to an AI-generated NFT—it makes you think twice about what’s real, what’s right, and what we’ve lost along the way.

By placing scholars’ rocks beside nuclear test images, the show creates a paradox that feels deeply relevant. In an age where tech moves faster than morality, The Power and the Glory invites us to look back, breathe deeply, and reckon with what we’ve done in the name of progress.

Raging Planet: A Bonus Exhibition

While you’re there, don’t miss Raging Planet, a group show featuring Angela Bulloch, Roger Hiorns, Bosco Sodi, Hwang Samyong, Keith Tyson, and Oliver Marsden. This parallel exhibition dives into the contemporary response to our volatile natural world. It’s less atomic, more emotional—but just as arresting.

Together, both exhibitions offer a meditative and visceral experience, perfect for anyone who likes their art with a side of existential dread and a dash of awe.

Visiting Newport Street Gallery

Located just a short jaunt from the chaos of Shoreditch, Newport Street Gallery remains one of London’s most consistently fascinating venues. The industrial-chic interiors give the exhibition the breathing space it needs, allowing each stone and photograph to resonate.

Admission is free, because good art shouldn’t require a bank loan. Just bring your curiosity—and maybe a friend who doesn’t mind a little quiet contemplation next to a visualised nuclear apocalypse.

Why This Matters to the Shoreditch Crowd

This show feels like a cultural wake-up call—a reminder that in all our obsession with innovation, there’s a deeper, older wisdom to be rediscovered. Much like the creative heartbeat of Shoreditch itself, The Power and the Glory celebrates contrast, risk, rebellion, and reflection.

So next time you’re queuing for a turmeric latte, ask yourself: Are we building or destroying? Creating art or making noise?

Then pop into Newport Street Gallery and find out.

Ready to stand between the sublime and the shattering? Catch The Power and the Glory before it vanishes.

28 March – 31 August 2025
Newport Street Gallery, SE11 6AJ
Free entry, Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm