Wesley Barnes

Artist Statement

In the world we live in there appears to be more chaos than peace. As the society grows its ideas and ways to colonize the people and make a normal to comprehend the chaos it feeds, is there any hope to receive peace and a break from society? Better yet is there any unsettled raw nature left in this world?

In this project it is a bridgeway passing over a “pond” with koi fish swimming peacefully in the waters. The audience may walk across the bridge and admire the idea of seeing the Koi’s “swimming”.

Was there a sense of peace felt with this walk? Idea behind this piece: Koi fish are to represent some human emotional meanings like the Asian culture’s tradition with koi fish. The koi fish represent Strength, Perseverance, and Bravery in the Asian Culture. Legend has it that the koi fish swam up the Yellow River in China and those who made it upstream and past the Dragon’s Gate waterfall were rewarded for their tenacity by being transformed into dragons (What does a koi fish represent? The Meaning Behind the World’s Bravest Fish, Nick).

With this piece it is to pursue the idea to bring peace and calmness to the mind with the sight and feeling towards the traditional idea of Asian cultures.

Reasoning behind the choice of Asian culture and Koi fish: As an artist I have the idea to pursue the practices of tattooing along with the sharing of creative thinking and ideas. In the history of tattooing, the Asian culture is known to be the founders of its idea along with it having meanings. In today’s society people get koi fish tattoos to help build self-confidence along with peace and comfort.

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