“Great art – or good art – is when you look at it, experience it and it stays in your mind. I don’t think conceptual art and traditional art are all that different.”
Damien Hirst is one of the most influential and controversial artists of his generation. A key figure in the Young British Artists (YBAs) movement of the 1990s, his groundbreaking work explores themes of life, death, science and consumerism.
Hirst first gained international fame with his Natural History series, which features animals preserved in formaldehyde, including his iconic 1991 piece "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living". This work, along with his spot paintings, spin paintings, medicine cabinets and diamond-encrusted skull, For the Love of God, 2007, has cemented his reputation as an artist who challenges traditional notions of art and value.
Hirst’s art sparks debate, but there’s no denying his impact on the art market and whether admired or criticised, his art continues to provoke thought and redefine the boundaries of contemporary art.