'I Saw Half The Moon', 2002, unique, hand finished coloured etching with acrylic, crayon, printers inks and pencil on 350gsm Hahnemuhle paper, from the 202 Portfolio 'In a spin: the Action of the World on Things, Volume I', signed and titled in pencil front, published by Paragon Press; sheet: 88 x 70cm

Damien Hirst employs a unique method to produce his artworks, leveraging a spin machine to rotate large circular canvases while he pours paint from a ladder above. This innovative approach was inspired by Hirst's collaboration with artist Angus Fairhurst during the 'A Fete Worse than Death' event in 1993, organized by curator Joshua Compston in London's Shoreditch. They created spin paintings using an inverted electric drill and paper, a concept reminiscent of a children's game. This method, costing £1 per painting and signed by both artists, became a staple for Hirst, leading to his famous 'Spin Paintings'.

For his series "In a Spin; "the Action of the World"; "Things I" and "Things II" Hirst adapted this technique to etching, attaching copper plates to the spin machine and using various sharp tools for drawing as they rotated. This process produced images with a dynamic blend of circular patterns, sometimes extending beyond or contained within the edges of different-shaped plates. The use of both soft and hard ground etching techniques introduced vibrant splashes of color to the structured lines, while Hirst's inscriptions of titles and dates on the plates added a personal touch to each piece.