Final answer:
Damien Hirst's artwork 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living', which includes a shark preserved in formaldehyde, reflects his exploration of mortality and the nature of art preservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
English artist Damien Hirst is renowned for his provocative works that often include preserved biological specimens. One of his most notable pieces is 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living', which features a tiger shark suspended in formaldehyde.
This piece reflects Hirst's exploration of death and the impermanence of life, positioning the shark in a state that appears lifelike while prominently being deceased.
Formaldehyde, a chemical with preservative properties, has historical use in the fields of biology and medicine for the preservation of tissue specimens, and this practice has contributed to its usage in Hirst's art.