Fish death denotes a physiological condition in which an animal, though still alive, lingers in a moribund state – incapable of returning to active biological life and moving toward death. Such a state may be induced by low temperatures, water poisoning, or oxygen deprivation. In human contexts, the adjective “dead” metaphorically signifies emotional detachment or indifference. The work draws upon one of the artist’s few childhood memories of her late father – the shared experience of fishing at a pond near the family home. It becomes a particularised portrait of her father, who is remembered by Liliana as a man who existed as if he had never truly lived. On the other hand, the motif of the fish assumes additional significance. The mosaic, inspired by inlay techniques, is created from the shells of thick shelled river mussel and swan mussel gathered along the banks of the Vistula River. Mussels, such as the sharp-pointed mussel (Unio tumidus), are frequently used in Poland as bioindicators for assessing water quality in biomonitoring systems. Exceptionally sensitive to pollutants, mussels serve as early warning sentinels, sealing their shells in response to the presence of toxic substances.
phot. Małgorzata Kujda
