Fishy Business

What is the difference between art and science? Good question! Or is it?

Science seems to be about a fundamentally different vision of life than that of artists. But the overlap and cross-over may be more widespread than we first imagine.

What provoked such ponderings? My trip to the Museum of Emmanuel Liais in Cherbourg earlier in the year. Liais was a collector of specimens of animals,insects, shells,and plants from all over the world. It is a fascinating collection and a few happy hours can be spent there and in the peaceful garden. The specimen of the shark suspended over chests of other exhibits, fascinated me. It also reminded me of the art work by Damien Hirst in 1991, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.

The object of the dead shark is common to both, yet it has a completely different meaning.

Meaning is created by the setting of the piece. A natural history museum, such as the one I visited in Cherbourg, seems a natural enough environment for specimens that are valued for the increase in human knowledge that they facilitate. When a similar kind of specimen is incorporated into a work of art it tends to divide opinion. What on earth can it possibly mean?

Perhaps understanding something of the artistic style or genre, can help us make a tentative meaningful interpretation.

Hirst was one of the Young British Artists who became influential in the late 1980’s. The genre, or style they created came to be referred to as Sensationalism. The movement was marked by its interest in exploring concepts that humans face- such as life, death, meaning, crisis. Their works often use irony and their tactics are to shock; they also use any material that can be pressed into service.

With the parameters of Sensationalism thus put in place, perhaps now we have a frame within which we can make a meaningful interpretation:

For sure, when are going about our ordinary days, we don’t think of death much if at all. Although it is the ‘book end’ of human life, poles apart from birth -whose beginning we did not control, we do not trouble ourselves with it, because it is troubling. When disaster or bereavement visit us we are forced to confront human mortality. Loss is unbearable, certainly to begin with. But gradually, loss is viewed from the perspective of our on-going lives, and our understanding maybe awakened to the miracle of life – a force mysterious and tremendous that animates us still.

Perhaps this gives us self-knowledge and helps us live a little more humbly, in awe and wonder. Or it might turn our attention to joy or just outright pleasure. Who knows! As many different responses as there are people.

Knowledge in the field of science has certainly increased and has been used in the service of humans. Knowledge about sharks has led to the materiality of sharks being used in food and non-food products. Some fish fingers and imitation crab sticks contain shark; the tanning and textile industry uses shark oil, as do some cosmetics, health products, vegetable oil and machine oil.

Sensationalism’s shock is evident and paraded before us and gives us the opportunity to think- or not. The application of scientific knowledge in certain ways is no less shocking- although much goes under the radar of our consciousness. We can evade the activity of thinking if we so choose.

Fishy Business!

Photo of Emmanuel Liais shark by Bastien Mosur:Damien Hirst sculpture photo taken from damienhirst.com;sharkwater.com for info on products using shark; info on Sensationalism from …isms: Understanding Art by Stephen Little.