"A Thousand Years" 1990

Damien Hirst is one of the most controversial artists to ever create a piece of artwork. Some of that controversy comes from the basis of so many of his works. Hirst has chosen to address not only the process of life and death, but the inevitable mortality of all living things in much of his artwork.

Hirst's installation piece titled "A Thousand Years" was composed of steel, glass, flies, maggots, MDF, an insect-o-cutor, a cow's head, sugar, and water. In this piece the maggots hatch in a white box, turning into flies. When they are able to fly they proceed to the other section of the tank where they feed on a dead cow's head. Some flies come to a short ending by meeting with an insect-o-cutor while others complete their life cycle, eventually perishing. This work of art deals directly with Hirst's view of life and death. Some of the flies lived full lives while others died prematurely.

This piece displayed how Hirst felt about the cycle of life and death. Some live full lives and complete the cycle while others are cut short and not given the chance.

"A Thousand Years and Triptychs." Gagosian. 04 008 2006. Gagosian, Web. 23 Nov 2009.

Lacayo, Richard. "Damien Hirst: Bad Boy Makes Good." Time Magazine 04 009 2008: n. pag. Web. 23 Nov 2009.