Fin Series - Shark Paintings
Fin 1 (Limited Portions of Number 23)
Fin 1 (Limited Portions of Number 23)
Acrylic on canvas
100cm diameter
FOR SALE
Since a study that took place in the 1970’s the recorded populations of several species of sharks have dropped by almost 95%.
Due to media representation of sharks as indiscriminate man-eaters, the plight of these creatures has gone relatively ignored. In fact, many shark species are listed as at higher risk of extinction than high-profile, protected land mammals such as the Indian rhinoceros, snow leopard and polar bear (the African elephants population is now stronger than that of whale sharks)
The main painting in the series, Limited Portions of Number 23, is a painting that focuses on the primary threat to shark populations around the world, the Chinese speciality of shark fin soup. To procure the main ingredient the sharks are caught, the fins removed, then the living but finless creature is then thrown back into the ocean to die slowly or be eaten by other fish.
The aim of the piece is to highlight the problems caused by the billion dollar shark finning industry without being so graphic as to repel the viewer.
In the painting the concentric circles follow the process of finning in the creation of shark fin soup. From the recognisable living animals through the alien-looking, impotent shapes of the discarded shark carcasses to the end product, a small and seemingly insignificant bowl of soup.
Fin 2 and Fin 3 are pieces which, whilst not actually featuring finning, support the main painting by celebrating the aesthetics of the creatures. As with Limited Portions, 25% of sales will go towards supporting conservation charities. Their title is a play on words using the literal meaning of fin and also the French use meaning ‘the end’ in reference to the issue of extinction.
Acrylic on canvas
100cm diameter
FOR SALE
Since a study that took place in the 1970’s the recorded populations of several species of sharks have dropped by almost 95%.
Due to media representation of sharks as indiscriminate man-eaters, the plight of these creatures has gone relatively ignored. In fact, many shark species are listed as at higher risk of extinction than high-profile, protected land mammals such as the Indian rhinoceros, snow leopard and polar bear (the African elephants population is now stronger than that of whale sharks)
The main painting in the series, Limited Portions of Number 23, is a painting that focuses on the primary threat to shark populations around the world, the Chinese speciality of shark fin soup. To procure the main ingredient the sharks are caught, the fins removed, then the living but finless creature is then thrown back into the ocean to die slowly or be eaten by other fish.
The aim of the piece is to highlight the problems caused by the billion dollar shark finning industry without being so graphic as to repel the viewer.
In the painting the concentric circles follow the process of finning in the creation of shark fin soup. From the recognisable living animals through the alien-looking, impotent shapes of the discarded shark carcasses to the end product, a small and seemingly insignificant bowl of soup.
Fin 2 and Fin 3 are pieces which, whilst not actually featuring finning, support the main painting by celebrating the aesthetics of the creatures. As with Limited Portions, 25% of sales will go towards supporting conservation charities. Their title is a play on words using the literal meaning of fin and also the French use meaning ‘the end’ in reference to the issue of extinction.
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