Hirst’s work explores the uncertainty at the core of human experience: love, life, death, loyalty and betrayal through unexpected and unconventional media. Moving and ambiguous, 'Sadness' was Damien Hirst’s first ever silver sculpture, commissioned for the exhibition Sterling Stuff I in 2002. Speaking of his experiences working in silver Hirst said:

“Silver is one of the elements, one of the building blocks of our material world. It is a symbol of value and preciousness loaded with association even before you make it into anything. Apart from any of that it represents wealth and stature, shines like the moon and is an incredibly beautiful and seductive material. So when Pangolin asked me if I would make a piece for ‘Sterling Stuff’ I agreed. Silver used to be mined in Combe Martin where I live, Queen Victoria’s jewellery was made from silver mined here. In ancient times artists drew with a stick of silver – it has a slightly graphic feel. Textures and edges feel crisper than bronze. It’s dreamy, other-worldly but also sensuous and sexy – natural to make sculpture with. I think I may have just begun to tap into its potential. Silver seems to magically throw out more light than it absorbs.”