The Undersea Salvage Operation: Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable

It takes a kind of genius to push kitsch to the point where it becomes sublime … this fictional museum is not only impressive, but moving. -Jonathan Jones, The Guardian

Evoking the classic dive books popularized by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, this limited-edition, leatherbound publication follows the underwater expedition that accompanied Damien Hirst’s latest project, Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable. Shot in the Indian Ocean over a number of years, the extraordinary underwater images of the artworks’ recovery were photographed by Christoph Gerigk, who has twice been awarded the World Press Photo Foundation’s prize for international photojournalism for his work on Egypt’s sunken cities. Also featured are photographs of the above-water operation by Steve Russell Studios. Signed by the artist and numbered in an edition of 1,000, the publication includes 128 full-color images, 94 of which are double-page spreads. The book’s pages feature a die-cut hole and gold-edged paper.