Is it art?
‘Oiran’ © caramacci_
The 2013 ‘Art Aquarium’ exhibition opened on 12th July in Tokyo and features a series of aquaria designed by contemporary artist Hidetomo Kimura.
The theme of this year’s installations is ‘Cool Goldfish of Edo’ in reference to the period of time when keeping goldfish first became popular in Japan and includes over 5000 fish of various ornamental strains including parrot cichlids and several types of goldfish.
The highly-modified aquaria also feature video and light displays, with the oversized goldfish bowl ‘Oiran’, containing 1000 goldfish, the star attraction.
Others include an 8-meter long ‘Four Seasons Aquarium’, kaleidoscope-themed ‘Kaleidorium’ and screen (byoubu) ‘Byoburium’.
The exhibition is at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall and runs until 24th September.
The displays certainly make an immediate visual impression but what do you think about the concept in general? Should these be considered as works of art, expensive furniture, or something else?
‘Kaleidorium’ © Art Aquarium
© Art Aquarium
Part of the exhibition with ‘Oiuran’ to the left © Art Aquarium
‘Byoburium’ © Art Aquarium
‘Andonrium’ © Art Aquarium
‘Four Seasons’ © Art Aquarium
© Art Aquarium
Category: Blogs, Events | Tags: aquarium, Art Aquarium, fishkeeping, goldfish, Kimura, parrot cichlid | 5 comments »
July 17th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
To me it’s nothing but a disgusting perversion.
You do that at home (not that I would ever want to) and you’ve got animal welfare knocking on your door (or knocking it down) before the last fish is in that bowl.
Art is supposed to be something beautiful, provoking at times but never cruel!
July 17th, 2013 at 6:38 pm
The key issue for me is the welfare of the fish.
I can only go by the photos but, given the massive overstocking visible in each “exhibit”, I couldn’t consider the result to be either works of art or expensive furniture – instead it’s shocking.
July 17th, 2013 at 7:05 pm
I see it the same way like Rüdiger
July 19th, 2013 at 10:07 pm
Without sounding like a condone any sort of animal cruelty, I really like these concepts for design, the stocking density is a clear issue but as long as the water quality is monitored and it is assured the fish are not in anything that will deteriorate there health for the sake of the display and then going to more suitable housing afterwards this is ok?
Like I said this is just my first impression of this and I am making assumptions so probably wrong aha.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:33 am
It’s certainly nice to look at but, as said previous, it shouldn’t have been allowed simply for the stocking issue. However this is Japan, I have come to expect nothing less than this. From what I can gather with past history, they have no animal rights whatsoever. I wonder if the artist would like to live in a coffin for a few weeks, we could make it arty!