This piece was made by Damien First in the 1990’s. My initial reaction is that I am very interested and curious of this piece and how it connects to it’s title, as well as everything to do with it makes me very interested to learn more about it. It is incredibly thought-provoking.
My emotional response would be fear if it were a living shark coming towards me, however because it is frozen in time I am more curious and relaxed (which I believe might’ve been Hirst’s point for this piece).
I believe that Hirst’s intention for this piece was to frighten and shock people and make them think very hard. They are being faced with something terribly frightening AKA a shark, however it is no longer alive so it can’t hurt you. There also could be a deeper meaning of the viewers being faced with the terrifying inevitability that is death. The viewer is just “forced” to stare at the monstrosity in awe.
The title in itself, without the art piece, is shocking and thought-provoking, we as living humans can never truly understand what it is like to be dead, and this piece is almost daring the viewer to question and figure out what it is like to die/be dead whilst still being alive.
OCA Art Blog 