Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (Lenticular)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
This 2013 lenticular, digitally printed on PETG plastic, measures 80 x 120 cm and comes from an edition of 150, signed and numbered. It borrows the title of Hirst's landmark 1991 tiger shark in formaldehyde, translating that iconic memento-mori subject into a shifting, angle-dependent image.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 150. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The title references arguably Hirst's most famous work, the suspended shark that defined the Young British Artists moment. Recasting it as a lenticular lets the viewer's movement animate the subject, making the theme of death-in-life literally kinetic rather than fixed in a tank.
Collector Perspective
The direct link to the celebrated shark piece gives this edition strong narrative appeal for collectors who cannot acquire the original vitrine work. The large 80 x 120 cm format and motion effect make it a statement object. The edition of 150 is signed and numbered for provenance.
Historical Context
The original The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) is a cornerstone of 1990s British art. This lenticular, published by Paul Stolper Gallery, revisits that touchstone two decades later, extending Hirst's inquiry into mortality into a new optical medium.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Lenticular edition
- Release date
- 2013
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Lenticular; catalog dimensions 80 x 120 cm; Lenticular - Digital printing on PETG plastic.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 150.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Damien Hirst's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: The original The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) is a cornerstone of 1990s British art. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2013 and attributes the edition to Paul Stolper Gallery.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Paul Stolper Gallery. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Damien Hirst — official site — Damien Hirst studio (Science Ltd.) · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Damien Hirst — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Damien Hirst (Q294326) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
Is this the actual shark artwork?
No. It is a 2013 lenticular print that shares the title of Hirst's 1991 shark-in-formaldehyde work and references its memento-mori theme.
What makes it move?
The lenticular printing on PETG plastic shifts the image as the viewer changes viewing angle.
How large is it?
It measures 80 x 120 cm, one of the larger formats in Hirst's lenticular editions.
What is the edition size?
Edition of 150, signed and numbered, published by Paul Stolper Gallery.
Related Damien Hirst Works
