David Shrigley, I Hate Human Beings, 2021

I Hate Human Beings (2021) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Rendered with the artist's signature deadpan aesthetic, *I Hate Human Beings* (2021) is a compelling David Shrigley screenprint that juxtaposes a charmingly primitive illustration of a beaver with a starkly misanthropic declaration. The composition features the flatly coloured brown animal clutching a small wooden stick, set against a clean, unadorned white background that intensifies the visual impact of the bold black hand-rendered typography.

By filtering heavy existential fatigue through the innocent guise of a woodland creature, the work perfectly captures the sense of absurdity that defines the artist's wider practice. This deliberate contrast between the gentle, industrious nature of the beaver and the aggressive text highlights the comedy of projection, turning a simple wildlife illustration into a biting commentary on contemporary human relations.

David Shrigley

As a highly celebrated figure in contemporary British art, the Glasgow School of Art alumnus has earned widespread international recognition, including a Turner Prize nomination and the prestigious Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square. His work is held in prominent public collections worldwide, including Tate, the British Council, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, cementing his position as a vital cultural chronicler.

Translating the immediacy of his daily drawing practice into more permanent media, each carefully produced David Shrigley print retains the raw, urgent energy of ink on paper. This translation allows the artist's satirical observations to scale up, providing collectors with a polished yet authentic gateway into his distinctively chaotic intellectual universe.

Screenprint Process

Utilising the tactile quality of heavyweight Somerset tub-sized 400gsm paper, this graphic work demonstrates the exceptional physical presence that defines high-quality hand-pulled printing. The screenprinting process applies rich, saturated layers of ink, resulting in deep blacks and a velvety, textured brown that traditional digital printing cannot replicate.

Executed in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Print Studio, the production maintains the precise line weight and spontaneous ink bleeds characterised by the original drawing. Acquiring a David Shrigley limited edition print of this calibre ensures that the artist's immediate, gestural hand remains fully visible in the final paper edition.

Collectability

Works that feature expressive creatures combined with subversive statements consistently attract the strongest collector interest within the global secondary market. Because these pieces effortlessly balance universal humour with highly recognisable iconography, they have become the most sought-after representations of his career.

Representing a highly coveted animal motif from his prolific 2021 publishing calendar, the print remains an exceptionally desirable example of his graphic output. Published in a restricted run of just 125, *I Hate Human Beings* is increasingly difficult to source, appealing directly to seasoned collectors wishing to anchor their collections with the artist's most celebrated thematic devices.