Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst is a prominent British artist rising to fame in the 1990s as part of the Young British Artists (YBAs) movement, which challenged traditional notions of art. He is best known for his provocative and often shocking works that explore themes such as life, death, mortality, and the fragility of existence. His fascination with the intersection of art, science, and medicine is evident in many of his pieces. One of Hirst's most iconic works is "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living," created in 1991. It features a shark preserved in formaldehyde and presented in a vitrine. The piece garnered both acclaim and controversy, becoming a symbol of Hirst's ability to provoke strong reactions and challenge conventional notions of art.