Awareness Post: Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst (1965-) is a British artist who helped define the modern British art scene, especially during the 1990s. He received formal art training at Jacob Kramer College and Goldsmith's College. His visit to a mortuary in college inspired much of his work, which sometimes involves dead animals, either preserved in formaldehyde or rotting out in the open.

I chose Hirst because his work with the animals pushes the boundaries of what can be considered "art". During this year, I've realized that "art" is an umbrella term used to describe any way someone can express a belief. So long as there is a comment or argument being made, it is art, regardless of the medium. Hirst's artwork in particular captures that idea, especially considering that at the beginning of junior year, I probably would not have agreed that a giant shark suspended in formaldehyde is "art'".

In his piece The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, Hirst represents the immensity of the thought of death with a large tiger shark, which measures roughly 14 feet. Through this piece, Hirst argues that ideas of death are too terrifying for living humans to truly comprehend, and that because death is such a scary concept, most humans don't dare getting near the subject. With his piece, Hirst puts that fear on display for all to see.

"I can't wait to get into a position to make really bad art and get away with it. At the moment if I did certain things people would look at it, consider it and then say 'f off'. But after a while you can get away with things." -Damien Hirst

Notable Exhibitions:

Natural History (London)- 2022

Cherry Blossoms (Tokyo)- 2022

Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable (Venice)- 2017

Relics (Doha)- 2013

Damien Hirst Retrospective (London)- 2012

The Complete Spot Paintings (Multiple Galleries)- 2012

For the Love of God (Amsterdam)- 2008

The Death of God (Mexico City)- 2006

Freeze (London)- 1998

In and Out of Love (London)- 1991