I'm conflicted about an art exhibit I saw today

[Coventina]

It was a great (overall) exhibit by an artist who does kinetic sculpture.

But one of his pieces troubles me. It's a chandelier with 5 standard sized lightbulbs, except that the lightbulbs are filled with water and there is an actual, living fish in each one. He has it rigged so that a soft blue light filters through each bulb, which makes the fish glow very prettily (they're all male Bettas).

There's a note up that says the fish's water is changed daily and they are fed, but it still seems cruel. It's beautiful, yet I find it troubling that these creatures are confined to such a tiny space.
The exhibit will be up for a week. I know Bettas don't require a lot of room, since they breathe at the surface, but it still bothers me.

What do you think?

[Salviati]

1. From what I understand...

Betas like being in confined spaces, but I could be completely wrong about that. I thought that they naturally lived in puddles and other very small bodies of water.

[ET Awful]

2. In nature, bettas spend their entire lives in an area not much bigger

than a lightbulb from what I've been told. They don't swim around much, and are very territorial.

If you go into a pet store to buy a betta, they are kept in individual containers that only hold about a cup to a cup and a half of water.

Of course, the daily water change is a necessity (in nature, the water is oxygenated pretty quickly and regularly).

I think the fish are fine :).

[Coventina]

3. Well, that's a relief

Because I really admired the show as a whole, and even that piece was very beautiful.

[DS1]

4. Where was this?

[Coventina]

5. Art gallery at the university

It was a Master's thesis show for someone getting an MFA.

[montana_hazeleyes]

6. Dear G-g

It reminds me of the 70's when dudes had live gold fish inside the see - though platform shoes. (That's a lot worse than this sound though)

Now that I think of it, how did that work? (the platform scenario?) Is that an Urban Legend? I could swear I saw it though.

[Coventina]

7. I've heard of that, but don't know if it's true or not.

I don't see how they could live because walking would have beat the crap out of the poor fishies.

Plus, they need a supply of oxygen which they wouldn't have sealed up in a shoe.

[LeftyMom]

8. Are you thinking of a movie by chance?

I remember a pair if shoes like that in a movie.

[montana_hazeleyes]

9. That's it!

It had to be a movie. I can almost picture the guy with the shoes but can't remember. Well,I'm glad to get this figured out between the three of us .lol

[LeftyMom]

12. I think that's "I'm GOnna Git You Suka"

If I recall correctly.

[phusion]

11. These?

http://www.pimpcostumes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&name=Platform_Shoes_Fish_Tank_Black&products_id=188

[montana_hazeleyes]

13. Oh dear lord

that is hysterical.I went to the site.lol Well these could be used for a costume but the ones I'm thinking of didn't have black on top. they were all fancy and way tall.

[qnr]

10. Well, if nothing else, they're getting a lot more stimulation than

your regular, run-of-the-mill Bettas.