I come from a long line of artists, I've had some training and I do understand art, but...
I just feel like it's wrong to see a creature just as part of some art piece. I enjoy Amano's aquascapes and think that he is a real genius when it comes to artfully planned tanks. I like it more wild though, not as strict, not as planned. And the fish, well, I don't have any actually, come first when I am thinking about what to do with the tanks. I'm into more organic evolution of a tank, it will show it's beauty later and every living thing in the aquarium is just as important, from living creatures to plants. It's true that I don't see them as art pieces, they are pieces of nature of which I am responsible of till the end.
To me, your way of doing things feels somehow shallow and your attitude a bit condescending. But your way of doing isn't wrong either if you are still providing good care for the fish you have.
Animals aren't humans, but they still deserve appreciation. Of course we select the fish and creatures that aesthetically please our eye, but we also (hopefully) take into consideration their needs and behavior. I don't think they should be something that get returned back to the store when they aren't needed anymore.
Well, there's not much to say, I basically disagree with you about nearly everything and I bet we couldn't be more different from each other even though we both are artists. |