An Ocean in a Bag

An Ocean in a Bag body of work illustrates the landscape of contemporary society, interrogating universal themes of social inclusion, boundary, and value.
This collection portrays a society fragmented into separate cells, lacking organic passage between each other. Each fish, whether depicted singly, in pairs, or groups, is confined within a frame that cannot contain them. They are out of the water and seemingly lifeless, evoking a sense of detachment and disconnection.
The rationale behind choosing fish is their unique symbolic meaning in both cultural and art history. In traditional cosmogonic concepts, fish is considered a symbol of the origin of life, representing the idea that life originated from water. In art history, fish appeared in some of the earliest still-life paintings, often symbolizing abundance and piety.
Through this collection, I tried to critically interrogate the concept of society as a collective of presences and a body of bodies. An Ocean in a Bag is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of contemporary society. It also challenges the audience to consider the nature of social inclusion and exclusion, as well as the value we place on diversity and difference.