Damien Hirst returns to the floral patterns for which he is so well known, but this time through the appropriation of historical Japanese forms and narratives. Taking as his subject matter Bushidō: The Soul of Japan, which was published in 1900 by Nitobe Inazō, translates the Samurai code of ethics for a Western audience. In Nitobe’s account, this code is divided into eight virtues, which govern customs such as the tea ceremony and behaviour such as tranquillity even in the face of danger. Referencing this ancient code, Hirst draws on the Western stylistic movements of Impressionism, Pointillism and Action Painting to explore the joy and beauty of Spring and new life while also suggesting their ephemerality.