Big Fish
Laurence Kubski
For her documentary work Big Fish, Laurence Kubski immersed herself in the world of aquarium fish.
Often called ornamental fish, of which there are more than three million in Switzerland, most saltwater fish are caught directly in their natural habitat. After extensive research on the artificial marine environments created by humans and displayed in complex ways, Kubski tracked down the various players in the sector, from local shops to the biggest wholesalers in the world, and along the way the veterinarians who control importation at the border, to fishers in Indonesia, the world’s biggest exporting country.
The photo installation resulting from her research is made up of images that lead viewers through the corridors of this complex industry. She looks at the intrinsic paradox of these marine environments that are reproduced in miniature in sophisticated ways for the sake of aesthetic pleasure. While this industry is an important source of revenue for people in developing countries and requires knowledge and expertise, it is also essentially about manipulating living beings and disturbing ecosystems. This is the paradox into which we are plunged by Kubski’s work.
With the support of: Ville de Lausanne / Globetrotter / Tricolor / Dieter Hüser
Year of production: 2021-2022
Venue
Le Grenier Dachstock
Le Grenier | Dachstock
Obergasse 1
2502 Biel/Bienne
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