Invisible Fish

Abstract

In 2017 a tiny, almost transparent fish was first encountered by a diver in the waters in a cave network near to the German- Swiss border. It is thought that the fish have lived there for 20,000 but until 2017 nobody knew they were there. Dr. Jasminca Behrmann-Godel is the evolutionary biologist investigating the newly discovered species; a Cave Loach. Her theory is that the fish dropped down from the surface and evolved gradually, finding new ways to survive and navigate in the extreme surroundings of the underground. The Cave Loach has adapted to total darkness, the skin has lost all pigmentation rendering the fish almost transparent, the eyes have closed over and receded, pressure sensors have developed, metabolic rate has slowed. It slowed and elongated as it descended.

This paper will think through the moment of encounter between the diver and the Cave Loach, through to the removal of the Cave Loach from the cave and its new home of a rectangular glass tank. Drawing on hydrofeminist scholarship (Chen, MacLeod and Neimanis 2013) and taking inspiration from geographies exploring cracks, gaps and permeability (Bosworth 2017, 2020) this paper will explain how imagining the Cave Loach has opened up a practice based, visual arts enquiry made in collaboration with writer Lindiwe Matshikiza.

The presentation will reflect on a series of images and sound works, demonstrating the continue evolution of practice based research based on this moment of encounter.