WHAT DO THE FISH / FISH CONVERSATIONS
For the making of ‘G O U D - What do the Fish in the sea think of the financial crisis? (and what do we think?)’ I wondered what is the imaginary poetry of the financial crisis?
What images or icons does the financial crisis bring us? In order to find my imagery I did research in Dubai - for me the icon of the financial crisis. Also, I invited artists and writers to think about the question of the financial crisis....from another point of view. The work was installed in the architecture of the Royal Bank Amsterdam.
EXHIBITION
De Nederlandsche Bank,
ART PARTNER INVITED, 2008/2009
Opening by Benno Tempel & Alexander Strengers (DNB)
ARTISTS
Machteld Aardse, Dario Bardic, Maze de Boer, Nathalie Bruys, Bas Louter, Aam Solleveld, Annemiek Vera
PUBLICATION
Title: S O L O Machteld Aardse G O U D, 2009
Publisher: Kwak & Van Daalen & Ronday, (UK/NL). Autors: Mauk Mulder, Tristan Mostert, Humberto Schwab, Jeane Huang
Design: Lyske Gais
Machteld Aardse, What do the Fish in the sea think of the financial crisis? (and what do we think?)
Mixed Media, paper, acrylic plate, 4x(135 x 175 cm) & light, 2008/9, De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam
FISH ANECDOTES / by Jeane Huang
Hi Machteld. The Chinese pronunciation of "Fish" is Yu which sounds exactly the same as another character Yu meaning "Surplus" . Therefore, in a traditional Chinese New Year's Eve dinner table, fish has to be served to wish for a new year and another year with "surplus" or plenty of savings, or having more than enough etc. Upon the fish dish (must be the whole fish, not cult fillet) was brought onto the table, a famous Chinese idiom is usually announced by everyone on the table: "Nian Nian Yo Yu" meaning "Wish you have surplus every year". So, this is probably why fish is associated with fortune (more about money and profits but not about good luck).
And it is interesting you mention the fish eye, which for Chinese gourmet is the best part for the fish dish. The part of fish head; especially the eyes are considered the precious delicacy that usually reserved for the eldest or the most respected individual when eating at the same table. It is also worth mentioning about the Chinese character structure of fish, which is graphically beautiful. If you have time you should look it up on the Internet and take a look at it. Jeane
