A striking wooden sculpture of a school of fish has undergone a unique treatment of burning and oiling. The carefully crafted piece features various fish swimming in formation and has been coated in oil for a rich, lustrous appearance. The burning technique adds depth and texture, giving the sculpture a dynamic and mesmerizing effect. This one-of-a-kind artwork is sure to capture the attention, and its natural wood finish makes it a beautiful addition to any home or office.
The illusionary fish forms in the composition play with our perception. Through the rounded, open, accessible forms and the play of light and shadow, the water world now becomes part of the surrounding landscape.
In this inverted world, the fish are vulnerable, but also strongly interconnected. In a metaphorical context, this reflects the subconscious, as we too can feel ‘like a Fish out of Water’ with completely different environmental factors.
Like a Fish out of Water consists of treated Okoume plywood in different layers and volumes, with the surface being hand-made rough and a coating accentuating the natural wood colour and structure. The web-like composition shows open and closed parts (negative – positive) that are in direct connection with each other.
The forms have tribal connotations that simply emerged as I made the life size charcoal sketches in my Amsterdam studio.