🌠 Damien Hirst Biography

Damien Hirst is a British artist known for his provocative and often shocking works, in which death is the central theme. He was born in Bristol to a car mechanic and an artist. His father left the family when Damien was 12 years old, and his mother had a hard time coping with the difficult teenager. In his youth, Hirst was twice arrested by the police for shoplifting.


Education and early career
After graduating from art school and working in construction, Hirst entered Goldsmiths College in London. This educational institution attracted students with unconventional views and approaches to art. During his student years, Hirst and his friends often visited the morgue to study anatomy. It was then that the artist developed an interest in the terrible and frightening, which was later reflected in his work.

Meeting Charles Saatchi
A fateful meeting for Hirst was with Charles Saatchi, a famous collector and gallery owner. In the late 1980s, Saatchi visited exhibitions organized by Hirst, and one of the installations made a strong impression on him. He acquired the artist's work for his collection and began collaborating with him.

"Shark in Formaldehyde"
In 1991, Saatchi asked Hirst to choose a theme for a new project. This is how his famous work "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" appeared - a giant tank with a real tiger shark immersed in formaldehyde.

Price and history of the work
The shark cost the artist 6 thousand pounds, but after turning it into a work of art, its value increased to 50 thousand pounds. In 2004, billionaire Steven Cohen bought the work for 12 million dollars. Interestingly, due to improper storage, the shark began to deteriorate. As a result, it was replaced with a new, larger and more expensive one.

Theme of Death in Works
After the shark, Hirst continued to create works using animals in formalin - sheep, cows and calves. Some of them were cut up to show the internal organs. Death became a central theme in his work, causing viewers both horror and interest. Hirst's works raise the question of life and death, but they do not leave anyone indifferent.

Historical connection with art
The theme of death has a long history in art, starting from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In the 17th century, the genre of vanitas was popular, which symbolized the futility of earthly life through images of skulls, coffins and skeletons.

Paintings with dots and drugs
In some works, Hirst uses images of multi-colored dots, which at first glance seem harmless. However, as it turns out, these dots actually reproduce the molecular structure of addictive drugs.

"Platinum Skull" and Money
Hirst also often explores the theme of money. His work "For the Love of God" is a platinum skull decorated with 8,000 diamonds and a giant pink diamond. This sculpture is valued at $100 million, but was never purchased by a single owner. In the end, the work was acquired by Hirst, his manager, and Ukrainian entrepreneur Victor Pinchuk.

Insect Project
One of Hirst's more controversial projects was performances with live insects. At one of the exhibitions, the artist glued pupae from which butterflies hatched onto canvases. The butterflies, whose lifespan lasts only one day, flew, drank nectar, and died. These works are also related to the theme of vanitas.

At another exhibition, Hirst created an installation called "Pharmacy", imitating a real pharmacy. Inside, flytraps were placed, in which flies were caught, attracted by special honeycombs.

Impact on Society
Hirst's work often provokes strong reactions and protests, especially from animal rights activists. Many of his works are shocking, frightening, and make you think about life, death, and the nature of art. Although you can love or hate his work, it is impossible to remain indifferent to it.