Damien Hirst

The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, by Damien Hirst, is a piece of artwork that is a real shark preserved in formaldehyde. It is one of the most expensive pieces of artwork in the world. At first, this artwork confuses me. It does not seem like something special and it is confusing that this is such a famous piece of artwork. I feel as though it is something that many different individuals would be able to create if given the proper materials. Taxidermists often complete similar works, and they are not recognized in such an extreme way for what they do. The fact that this is a real shark being preserved is interesting, but to me it does not necessarily seem like extremely impressive art, even though that’s how it is perceived by it’s fans all over the world.

The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living was created in 1992. The original shark was replaced after it deteriorated in 2006 and most recently the artwork has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is one of the most famous pieces of art in the world. Damien Hirst is an English artist, born in Bristol in 1965. He took courses at Leeds School of Art and then attended Goldsmiths College where he graduated in 1988 with a BA in Fine Art. His major starting point was an exhibition called “Freeze” that he organized while he was still a student at Goldsmiths College.

Hirst is internationally known and is known to be the richest artist up to current day. Death is a theme in many of his pieces of artwork, as it is in The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living. He has also completed many other works that include preserved animals. His artwork is known to be very controversial. Even his fans often make controversial statements about his works, and say that it is hard to understand unless you have an art degree. It is believed that part of this is because his artwork is very hard to understand unless you experience it in person, and people are too quick to believe things said in the media. Viewing the artwork in pictures does not give you the full affect.

After researching Damien Hirst and looking further into The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, it is interesting to see that there is much more to this artwork then what immediately meets the eye. It is a piece of artwork that says a lot about life and death. This fierce looking shark gives an impression that speaks about death in a way that is hard to understand but emotional at the same time. The New York Times in 2007 states that “the shark is simultaneously life and death incarnate in a way you don’t quite grasp until you see it, suspended and silent, in its tank. It gives the innately demonic urge to live a demonic, deathlike form”. It is now easier to understand why this piece of artwork is so famous, even if I do not agree with the fact that he is killing animals for artwork. This work is striking and emotive, and will likely impress people as an amazing work for many years to come.