A Japanese artist has used thousands of fish in illuminated tanks to create a sprawling psychedelic visual art installation, drawing tens of thousands of viewers in Tokyo.
Hidetomo Kimura's travelling Art Aquarium exhibition puts on display around 5,000 goldfish and 3,000 other maritime creatures, such as seahorses, in 130 LED-lit tanks of various shapes, colours and sizes.
The LED displays provide a colourful variety of moving images, such as one of sakura blossoms falling serenely from the sky, to the accompaniment of music.
"I wanted to create an artistic installation which is alive by using real fish, rather than materials or pictures," Kimura said on the sidelines of the exhibition.
-
A woman wearing a traditional costume takes a look at installations using fish in illuminated tanks at the Art Aquarium exhibition. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters -
Women wearing traditional costumes take a look at installations using fish in illuminated tanks at the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters -
Women dressed in yukata look at goldfish swimming in fish tanks designed by Hidetomo Kimura at the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo. Christopher Jue / EPA -
A woman dressed in yukata looks at goldfish swimming in a fish tank designed by Hidetomo Kimura at the Art Aquarium exhibition. Christopher Jue / EPA -
Women dressed in yukata look at goldfish swimming in a fish tank designed by Hidetomo Kimura at the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo. Christopher Jue / EPA -
Hoses fill a tank with water prior to the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters -
Goldfish swimming in the 'Oiran' installation on display at the Art Aquarium exhibition. Christopher Jue / EPA -
Goldfish swimming in a fish tank installation designed by Hidetomo Kimura are on display at the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo. Christopher Jue / EPA -
A staff member works to prepare the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters -
Installations using goldfish in illuminated tanks are displayed at the Art Aquarium exhibition. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters -
Staff put plastic bag holding fish into tanks as they prepare the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters -
Installations using goldfish in illuminated tanks are displayed at the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters -
Japanese Art Aquarium artist Hidetomo Kimura puts goldfish in a tank as he prepares the Art Aquarium exhibition in Tokyo. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters
Kimura creates similar installations several times a year to show all over Japan. This year's Art Aquarium, which marks a decade since Kimura's first such display, is also set to show in the western city of Kyoto in the fall.
This year's exhibition features hundreds of varieties of goldfish, including several cross-bred species. The fish swim in bubbling fishbowls made of magnifying glass, draped with lace or shaped like Japanese lanterns, among others.
One of the new works this year, in which Black Moor goldfish swirl about as their shadows are projected onto a white LED screen, creates an illusion of a Japanese ink-and-wash painting.
The exhibition is on show at the Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall until Sept 24.
* Reuters
