Art Aquarium Taipei is an art exhibition incorporating hundreds of goldfish. However, the event has drawn criticism from animal right activists who say the fish aren't being treated well.
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00:00Hundreds of goldfish, moving gracefully along with music, lighting, fragrance, and art.
00:08A mesmerizing scene.
00:10This is part of Art Aquarium Taipei.
00:13It is the first time for the Japanese exhibit to be held in Taiwan.
00:31The event first debuted in Tokyo in 2007
00:34and has since hosted annual limited-time exhibitions across Japan.
00:39In May 2022, a permanent exhibition was established in Tokyo's Ginza district.
00:45According to Art Aquarium,
00:47the exhibition has drawn a total of 12 million visitors as of August this year.
00:52The goldfish on display, along with the surrounding,
00:55are meant to recreate the atmosphere of Japan under the last shogunate,
00:58a time when goldfish were appreciated for their beauty
01:01and also symbol of luck and prosperity.
01:04Despite the beauty of the event,
01:06it has drawn criticism from animal rights activists,
01:09who say it is harmful for the fish.
01:11Speaking about the exhibition in Japan,
01:13veterinarian Pan Shiying, who specializes in fish,
01:17expressed concern,
01:19stating that the animals appear to be unhappy with limited movement.
01:23The condition of the fish is not very good.
01:25But I have to emphasize one thing here.
01:28The condition of the fish here is not very good.
01:30It doesn't mean that the fish inside are sick
01:32or that the condition of the water is very bad.
01:34It just means that the mental condition of the fish inside has become very abnormal.
01:38For us, that is a situation where the fish is extremely bored
01:41or extremely helpless.
01:44You will find that there are a few fish that still float,
01:47there are still a few movements,
01:48but there are a few fish that are already standing still.
01:51Another of Pan's concerns about the event is its lighting,
01:55as goldfish have vision comparable to that of humans.
02:18In response to the concerns raised by Pan,
02:20the exhibition consultant stated
02:22that they have adjusted the lighting
02:24to ensure it does not cause discomfort to the fish.
02:27The lights transition gradually,
02:29giving fish time to adapt.
02:31The consultant also explained
02:33that fish eyes respond to light and color in a developmental manner
02:37and are not capable of adapting to all colors of light immediately from birth.
02:51Amur right activists have been protesting the exhibition for some time,
02:55and organizers have assured them
02:57that the fish are well taken care of.
02:59They have staff monitoring the health of the fish around the clock.
03:21The exhibition is scheduled to run until May 2025,
03:25giving visitors plenty of time to see the fish
03:28and perhaps get some of their luck and prosperity.
03:31However, Amur right activists will continue to monitor the event
03:35to make sure the fish remain happy and healthy.
03:50Hang Xu and Zeng Yiqi for Taiwan Plus.