Living Gems: The Evolution of Aesthetic Design and Genetic Engineering in Fish

2002/03

From decorative pets to a food stable, few types of organisms have been as manipulated as fish -they have been sculpted according to our every need, desire and fantasy for centuries. This project explores the origin, growth and contemporary practice of artificial selection/genetic engineering in fish through a series of field-trips and a resulting installation. The unconscious selection of our ancient ancestors shifted to selective breeding or artificial selection and has now evolved into the manipulation of individual genes to create entirely new species. By visiting archaeological sites, pet stores, urban parks, seafood markets and biotech laboratories Ballengée attempts to trace the history of humankind’s struggle for dominance over natural evolutionary forces. Using traditional 35 mm photography and neo-digital techniques such as scanner photography, the artist generated numerous images of manipulated species/breeds.

As a beginning to the visual journey, photographs of neolithic fish containers made from stone, may demonstrate early attempts at aquaculture. Colorful gourami and carp represent early manipulated species from Asia. Images of Middle-Eastern, African and American species reflect the urge to keep exotic species in Europe during the Renaissance. By the Victorian Era, goldfish were commonly kept as pets throughout Europe and North America. By the twentieth century, hundreds of types of engineered fish existed in the pet and fish farming trade. Today, the manipulation and harvesting of genes in fish have created numerous transgenic species- types that have never existed in nature and may have unknown environmental consequences if released.

In collaboration with:
Hong Suk Michael Oh (scientific advisor)
Peter Warny (scientific advisor)

Living Gems. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Living Gems. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Living Gems. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Living Gems. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Pearl or Mosaic gourami. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Pearl or Mosaic gourami. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Black Ancestral-like koi and Golden koi. Aquatech, Manchester, England.. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Black Ancestral-like koi and Golden koi. Aquatech, Manchester, England.. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Calico Fantail goldfish with Ranchu features. Fish World, Oldham, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warn

Calico Fantail goldfish with Ranchu features. Fish World, Oldham, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Double-Bubble Eyed goldfish. Aquatech, Manchester, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Double-Bubble Eyed goldfish. Aquatech, Manchester, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Pearl-Scale goldfish with Lionhead features. Aquatech, Manchester, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter War

Pearl-Scale goldfish with Lionhead features. Aquatech, Manchester, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Black Sailfin molly with Lyre-tail. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, New York. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Pet

Black Sailfin molly with Lyre-tail. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, New York. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

White Sailfin molly with Lyre-tail. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Pete

White Sailfin molly with Lyre-tail. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Neon-Blue Cobra guppies. Fish World, Oldham, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Neon-Blue Cobra guppies. Fish World, Oldham, England. 2002. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Extra Long-finned Siamese Fighting fish. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and

Extra Long-finned Siamese Fighting fish. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Parrot fish. Injected with Coloured Dye. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, New York. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh an

Parrot fish. Injected with Coloured Dye. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, New York. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Painted Glow in the Dark tetra or Glassfish. Injected with Phosphorescent Dye. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in coll

Painted Glow in the Dark tetra or Glassfish. Injected with Phosphorescent Dye. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

Painted Glow in the Dark Pink tetra or Glassfish. Injected with Phosphorescent Dye. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in

Painted Glow in the Dark Pink tetra or Glassfish. Injected with Phosphorescent Dye. Tropical Island Petstore, Flushing, NY, USA. 2003. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

SalmoFan. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.

SalmoFan. Exhibited at The International Center for Photography, New York, NY, USA, 2003. In scientific collaboration with in collaboration with Hong Suk Michael Oh and Peter Warny.