What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a kiss? Romance? Affection? Well, here at the Kissing Fish sculpture in Tokyo, it’s something a bit different. These fish, locked in a perpetual lip-lock, aren’t exactly whispering sweet nothings. They represent a unique species known as kissing gourami. These fish, also called “kissers”, are native to Southeast Asia. Their “kiss” is actually a territorial display, a way to establish dominance. The Kissing Fish sculpture captures this unusual behavior. Kissing gourami are known for their protruding mouths, lined with tiny teeth they use to scrape algae from rocks. This scraping action, seen between two gourami, looks remarkably like a kiss to human observers. Ironically, while their behavior inspired a sculpture representing affection, it’s actually a form of competition in their world. The greenish-silver variety, with their lengthwise spotty stripes, is the wild form of the fish. The pinkish ones are a leucistic form, a result of selective breeding. So, next time you see two people sharing a kiss, think of the Kissing Fish. Their peculiar embrace might just make you appreciate the complex nature of affection, even in the animal kingdom.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to