This is arguably the most iconic work of the YBA movement. It is a provocative and controversial piece that directly confronts themes of death, decay, and the limits of human understanding. It also sparked debate about the nature of art and its commercial value.
Born: June 7, 1965, Bristol, England
Nationality: British
Style: YBA, Conceptual Art
Influences: Death, science, spectacle
Major Exhibitions: "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" (1991), "For the Love of God" (2007), "Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable" (2017)
Quote: "I'm interested in the things that people can't avoid, like death and religion."
Website: https://gagosian.com/artists/damien-hirst/
This work consists of a large tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde in a glass vitrine.
