Ghost Fish Installation At Tate Modern Draws Ire
55 fish (Ghost Catfish and Chanda Ranga – commonly known as Glass fish) were kept in three tanks as part of an installation by Cildo Meireles, a prominent Brazilian artist, but almost a quarter of them died during the 13 week long exhibition says this article.
Called Atraves or Through, and Red Shift, the installation was part of a major exhibition of conceptual art at Tate Modern, but their deaths have left the gallery facing accusations of neglect. On their part, Tate Modern claims that the fish were sourced from a reputable aquarium specialist who advised them on the appropriate conditions to ensure the continual well being of the fish. While Tate claims to have maintained the required conditions, obviously keeping fish is more than that, as all aquarium owners would know.
Isn’t it time that fish stopped being part of an installation. If anybody would show the fish in their natural habitat, now that is an art, but as part of an installation ??? – thats murder.
Take for instance, the display entitled Helena by Chilean artist Marco Evaristti at the Trapholt Art Museum in Denmark in 2000.
Featuring 10 blenders containing goldfish, Evaristti wanted people “to do battle with their conscience” so visitors to the exhibition were invited to turn on the blenders. Several of the fish were liquidised which led to the museum director, being charged with, but later acquitted, of animal cruelty.
How could such an installation even come close to being called art?
Do you remember that installation of a dog starved to death? But why should we be shocked? People do unthinkable things to other animals, including using them for culinary and other purposes quite routinely. Perhaps they were only satisfying their morbid curiosity at the museum.