Damien Hirst , born 1965, studied for a BA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College. In 1988, he conceived and curated a group exhibition of Goldsmiths students, titled Freeze, which marked the beginning of his career through the birth of the Young British Artists movement. Through installation, sculpture, painting, and drawing, Damien Hirst explores the complex relationship between art, life, and death in his work. A world-famous artist, who was awarded the Turner Prize in 1995-rewarding a contemporary British artist under the age of 50-, he has had numerous solo shows in museums and institutions worldwide, namely, Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana in Venice; Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable (2017), Tate Modern; Damien Hirst (2012) and ICA; Internal Affairs (1991) in London. Emanuele Coccia is an Italian Philosopher and Associate Professor at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris. Philippe Costamagna is a French art historian, Director of Palais Fesch-Musée des Beaux-Arts, Ajaccio (France). Michio Hayashi is a Japanese art historian and professor at Sophia University, Tokyo. Gilda Williams is an American professor and art historian at Goldsmiths College (Department of Arts), London.

Alberto Manguel is an Argentine-Canadian anthologist, essayist, novelist, editor, and former Director of the National Library of Argentina.