Visual Arts Unit - All About Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst is a famous artist who loves to create unique and interesting artwork. He was born in England in 1965. Damien is known for using unusual materials, like animals and medicine, in his art. One of his most famous works is a shark that he put in a tank of formaldehyde. It's called "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living." Damien also likes making colorful spot paintings and butterfly artwork. His art is displayed in museums all around the world. Damien Hirst shows us that art can be fun and surprising!

Where was Damien Hirst born?
What are some unusual materials Damien Hirst uses in his art?
What is one of Damien Hirst's most famous works?
What other types of artwork does Damien Hirst create?
Where can you see Damien Hirst's art?

The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living

The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living is a very special piece of art created by the artist Damien Hirst. It is a sculpture of a shark that is suspended in a tank filled with formaldehyde, which is a liquid used to preserve things. The artwork was made in the year 1991 and has become very famous all around the world.

What is the name of the artwork?
Who is the artist who created this sculpture?
What is the shark suspended in?
When was this artwork made?
Why do you think this artwork became famous?

A Visit to The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living

Hi, my name is Sophie and I'm 8 years old. Today, I want to tell you about an awesome visit I had to a gallery in London, England. It was super cool and I saw some really interesting things!

First, we went to the gallery called Tate Modern. It's a big place full of amazing artworks. One of the most famous artworks there is called "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" by Damien Hirst. It's a giant shark in a big tank of formaldehyde. I know, it sounds scary, but it was actually really fascinating to see! The shark looked so real and it made me think about how big and powerful creatures in the ocean can be.

After we finished exploring the gallery, we went to another tourist attraction in the same city. It was the London Eye! We took a ride in one of the giant Ferris wheel capsules and it was so much fun. From up there, I could see the whole city of London. It looked like a big puzzle with lots of tall buildings and little cars moving around like ants.

What is the name of the gallery Sophie visited?
Who is the artist of "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living"?
What is the artwork that Sophie saw at the gallery?
What is the name of the tourist attraction Sophie visited after the gallery?
What did Sophie see from the London Eye?

Your Turn...

This image has been generated by Artificial Intelligence and is inspired by The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living by Damien Hirst . Your task is to create your own image based on the original piece of art. Before you start, ask yourself some questions about this inspired image. What similarities are there between this image and the original one? What are the differences? Think about your own piece of art. What similarities would you like to include? What differences would you like to include? Now you are ready to make your own piece of art. Good luck!