ALina Prokopenko´s “Fish”

Alina Prokopenko is a culinary artist and alumnus of the renowned FERRANDI Paris culinary school, who is also the mastermind behind the chic, enchanting dishes at Parisian restaurant “Mater”, nestled in Lafayette Anticipations Gallery. As a culinary artist, Prokopenko has often integrated her creations in nature - from her coconut sponge cake on the sea banks surrounded by seagulls to her infamous black chocolate oyster shells placed in a cove and adorned with jewels. 

Prokopenko´s “Fish”, is a poignant performance that showcases the beauty and the fragility of what many of her creations are inspired by, nature itself. A gelatine-based fish suspended on ice represents the unique environment in which such an organism can remain intact. Prokopenko contrasts this by placing another fish in a new environment - hot, unstable, incompatible - the fish, in such conditions cannot survive, it melts and disappears. Life is subject to the conditions it finds itself in, and survival is not guaranteed. 

Through this arresting visual, “Fish” draws a parallel to the perilous state of our planet. The melting of the fish without the protective ice mirrors, the plight of various species facing extinction as the audience is invited to reflect on the fragility, beauty and danger that we create and find ourselves in as part of the natural world. 

Prokopenko´s choice of medium, gelatine, imbues the piece with a sense of ethereal beauty, capturing the essence of nature's intricate design. At the centre of the fish - caviar. A symbol of life, fertility and abundance. As the melting fish disappears and the caviar remains, its inhospitable environment deprives it of its continuation and legacy. 

The juxtaposition of frozen stillness and impending thaw creates a palpable tension, inviting viewers to confront the transience of life and the delicate balance of our ecosystems. It serves as a mirror to our own responsibilities and invites us to consider the broader implications of our choices in preserving the fragile natural world that sustain us all.