April 17, 2013

Who Needs a Paintbrush When You Can Use a Dead Fish?

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

James Prosek is a person who continually challenges the neat categories we create to delineate where one discipline ends and another begins. In his own words:

I want to be able to be a writer and a painter and an illustrator and a sculptor and not have to be confined by the taxonomies of art making or of literature... Why are we so eager to draw these disciplinary walls?

One of his latest projects embodies this philosophy as he combines extensive research, a conservationist agenda, fierce artistic talent and skilled writing in a multimedia tribute to the humble eel.

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There is a book, titled Eels: An Exploration, From New Zealand to the Sargasso, of the World's Most Amazing and Mysterious Fish, which the New York Times reviews favorably (link below).

There are paintings, done in a traditional Japanese style known as gyotaku (fish printing), where paint is applied directly to a dead fish and subsequently applied to the paper.

And there is a documentary called The Mystery of Eels airing tonight on PBS at 8pm (but check your local listings). Catch it if you can. If not, the program will be available for streaming from PBS shortly after the broadcast.

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