press-releases07
Artist shares "fish-eye" view of life in thesis exhibition
Published: Apr 23, 2007
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Graduate painting student Brienna McLaughlin explores the tragic role of the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) as the ultimate disposable pet in her thesis exhibition, on display May 3-16, at Alexander Hall Auditorium, 668 Indian St. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
In order to reinforce our connection to living beings and remind us of the fragility of life, McLaughlin magnifies betta fish to human size. In so doing, she portrays their environment from a fish-eye perspective, which provokes viewers to consider what it would be like if they were in the place of the dying fish.
"I paint bettas, not because I love fish, but because they are a symbol to house our collective guilt," McLaughlin said.
The betta became her subject after attempting to return a fish to a pet store, where she learned most stores return policies state the animal must be dead to be accepted. Before she could protest, she watched the manager pour the returned fish into the sink to let it suffocate.
This led to McLaughlin's investigation of fish conditions in pet stores, observing that most bettas lined shelves above the sink, some left toppled over and barely breathing. Water is dyed blue to enhance beauty, while the fish are left in their own filth, tranquilized by stress enzymes.
McLaughlin alludes to parallels in our own society, saying that like a betta confined in a cup, many people live in apartments stacked sky-high, and work in claustrophobic cubicles, providing barely enough room to move.
"This self-inflicted confinement is both physical and psychological," McLaughlin said. "The artificial appearance of beauty is more important to us, with toxins in our cosmetics, footwear that inhibits walking and carcinogenic products that are marketed as sexy. The betta is the overlooked, forgotten animal, merely appreciated for superficial aesthetic qualities; it represents all of our shallowness and pain."
McLaughlin hopes visitors leave the exhibition with an appreciation and awareness of the fragility of life. For more information, contact exhibitions@scad.edu.
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Graduate painting student Brienna McLaughlin explores the tragic role of the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) as the ultimate disposable pet in her thesis exhibition, on display May 3-16, at Alexander Hall Auditorium, 668 Indian St. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
In order to reinforce our connection to living beings and remind us of the fragility of life, McLaughlin magnifies betta fish to human size. In so doing, she portrays their environment from a fish-eye perspective, which provokes viewers to consider what it would be like if they were in the place of the dying fish.
"I paint bettas, not because I love fish, but because they are a symbol to house our collective guilt," McLaughlin said.
The betta became her subject after attempting to return a fish to a pet store, where she learned most stores return policies state the animal must be dead to be accepted. Before she could protest, she watched the manager pour the returned fish into the sink to let it suffocate.
This led to McLaughlin's investigation of fish conditions in pet stores, observing that most bettas lined shelves above the sink, some left toppled over and barely breathing. Water is dyed blue to enhance beauty, while the fish are left in their own filth, tranquilized by stress enzymes.
McLaughlin alludes to parallels in our own society, saying that like a betta confined in a cup, many people live in apartments stacked sky-high, and work in claustrophobic cubicles, providing barely enough room to move.
"This self-inflicted confinement is both physical and psychological," McLaughlin said. "The artificial appearance of beauty is more important to us, with toxins in our cosmetics, footwear that inhibits walking and carcinogenic products that are marketed as sexy. The betta is the overlooked, forgotten animal, merely appreciated for superficial aesthetic qualities; it represents all of our shallowness and pain."
McLaughlin hopes visitors leave the exhibition with an appreciation and awareness of the fragility of life. For more information, contact exhibitions@scad.edu.
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