Analysis It is a dead tiger shark in a large tank made of glass and steel, suspended in a 5% solution of formaldehyde. It is not much different from a zoological specimen. The work was funded by a curator, who offered to pay for whatever artwork Hirst (the artist) wanted to create. In understanding and appreciating this work, the context of presentation of the work is most important. Like most of Hirst’s other works, it examines our relationship with death, both through its metaphorical implications (given by the title) and the fact that it immediately presents us with a real dead animal. The subject is traditional, but the medium is not. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living Damien Hirst, 1991

Interpretation When interpreting this art, there is not much we can get from the art itself, which is merely a dead animal. Instead, we should look to the observer, and to the artist, Damien Hirst, who is a contemporary young British artist. Death is a central theme in Hirst’s works. In keeping with the piece’s title, Hirst intends to portray the shark as simultaneously life and death. Humans take on a universal personal view when it comes to death. No matter the culture, or the time period, death is something common to all. Suspended and silent in its tank, the shark is unmoving and safe, yet the observer feels a slight discomfort (on instinct) on how the shark looks so real, so large, so alive. This is the effect that Hirst intended to portray. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living Damien Hirst, 1991

Value Perhaps the first question to ask is, “Why is this art?” The artist played a variation on his artwork by using an animal rather than machine-made objects (such as paper, etc) to extend the impact on the viewer. There is still the mystery of how the artist could have turned such a thing – a naturally occuring animal – into a work of art. People who visit natural museums see even more interesting specimen, and those who have been to underwater displays would be more entertained upon seeing living sharks swimming about. Why, then, is this particular piece of art called an art, or even an art so renowned? Perhaps the difference is that the artist wanted to portray something through this animal. And he did not make a representation of the animal, rather, the animal itself is there. The title invites the viewer to find an analogy between the dead shark and our perception of death. This is where we find value in this work. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living Damien Hirst, 1991