Fish Eating Fish

2017

“Choose not to be harmed and you won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed and you haven't been.” -Marcus Aurelius

Fish Eating Fish (FEF) is a multimedia installation that delves into the complexities of grief and coping mechanisms. Building upon my earlier performance work, Cards Against Humanity, FEF expands on the concept that trauma can be navigated by following a specific path derived from the metaphorical logic of a circular handrail.

Components of the Installation

• Three self-recorded testimonials from participants
• Sculptures crafted from wood and foam
• Photographs
• Hand-crafted seating
• An array of steel structures, speakers, and monitors

The installation juxtaposes a traumatic event with the flawed logic of the stoic coping mechanism, aiming to inspire empathy not only for the artist's experiences but also for others facing unexpected hardships. The testimonials form the core of the piece, explaining how one might seek relief from acute emotional pain by contextualizing it within past and potential experiences.

While the my personal loss—the passing of my father during the creation of this work—informed the piece, FEF takes a step back from direct autobiographical expression. Instead, it employs the perspectives of collaborators who, with clearer minds, could more effectively critique my coping strategies. This approach separated me from the static, discernible character ( a version of myself) at the center of the work. The divide occured as the pace of producing the artwork began to differ from how my feelings evolved during the grieving process.

FEF was an attempt to create a purely earnest artwork through transparency, vulnerability, and a desire to help others.

Like its predecessor, Cards Against Humanity, the philosophy underlying FEF was designed for dissemination. To facilitate this, the installation provided postcards featuring an image of the circular handrail, enabling viewers to spread the ideas presented in the artwork.

Through this multifaceted approach, Fish Eating Fish invites viewers to reflect on the nature of trauma, the imperfections of our coping mechanisms, and the power of shared experiences in fostering understanding and healing.

“It is in times of security that the spirit should be preparing itself for difficult times; while fortune is bestowing favors on it is then is the time for it to be strengthened against her rebuffs.”-Seneca