Appropriation: Hirst incorporates various found objects and medical instruments within the vitrine, repurposing them in an artistic context.
Fragmentation and Disruption: The work is composed of disparate anatomical parts and surgical tools assembled in a seemingly disconnected manner, disrupting traditional notions of unity and coherence.
Absence of a Fixed Narrative: Hirst's artwork doesn't convey a singular, linear narrative. Instead, it invites viewers to construct their own meanings and interpretations, allowing for multiple perspectives and individual experiences.
Blurring of Boundaries: The artwork challenges conventional boundaries between art and science, medical practice and artistic expression. It combines elements of science, medicine, and contemporary art, prompting viewers to reflect on the intersections of different disciplines.
Irony and Subversion: There's an element of irony in the title, which highlights the inherent contradiction between the finality of death and the illusion of its impossibility in the mind of the living. Hirst subverts traditional conceptions of mortality and challenges viewers' expectations.
Deconstruction: The work deconstructs traditional approaches to representation and challenges accepted norms in art. It breaks away from conventional depictions of the human form and medical imagery, encouraging viewers to reconsider their understanding of these subjects.
The combination of these postmodern characteristics distinguishes "The Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" as a significant piece within the context of postmodern art.