Fish 1966

Curator: Right now, we are standing in front of Karel Appel's mixed media print from 1966 entitled, "Fish." It’s a real explosion of color. Editor: Explosion is the right word. My immediate impression is…raw energy. It’s almost childlike, a beautiful mess of colors. Like a tantrum put to canvas…but a happy one. Curator: Appel was a founding member of the CoBrA group. This art movement, emerging in post-war Europe, rebelled against formal and traditional academic styles in favor of spontaneity and vibrant expression. This piece really exemplifies those values. Editor: Absolutely. Look at the way he slaps those colors together. Red, green, blue – they clash wonderfully! And "Fish," you say? I see it there… abstracted, almost swallowed by the emotion of the piece. It is all guts and visceral feel, not overly concerned with accurately rendering the fish, more about how the idea *feels*. Curator: That rawness was very much a deliberate political statement at the time. Appel and others associated with CoBrA aimed to reject what they viewed as the decadence and corruption of the establishment through this crude, almost primal aesthetic. It reflected their deep concern for a world recovering from war and under threat of totalitarism. Editor: Right, like art as a primal scream, you know? Throwing convention out the window and just…feeling it, as loud as you can. I am so curious why this particular motif and what he means by fish in that context? Curator: The "fish" could perhaps represent nature’s persistence or simple sustenance in chaotic times. Some have noted possible religious connotations but the true meaning lies likely within the emotive force behind his aesthetic choices, what Appel himself described as pure spontaneity. The market definitely saw potential when the Dutch Government commissioned a mural by him for the UNESCO building in Paris. Editor: It still sings to me, this “Fish.” It is just an absolute rejection of stillness; an anthem against conformity and the dull grays of everyday seriousness. A battle cry to create and be free. Curator: Exactly. "Fish" certainly remains a potent symbol for unbridled expression and the courage to break away from constraints imposed by society, political systems, and even one's own artistic limitations. Editor: I leave this feeling energized to throw some paint myself! Maybe even some fish scales if I am feeling especially adventurous! Thanks for shedding some light on the message. Curator: And thanks for reminding us to feel that energy!