Fall and Rise of a Fish

2008
Video, HDV, 9.26 min
Berlin, Germany

In Fall and Rise of a Fish, the fish and its aquatic habitat symbolize humanity’s reliance on the natural world. Marcin’s performance uses this metaphor to highlight both the fish’s fragility and our own vulnerability—not only to nature’s unpredictability but also to the shifting decisions made by those in power. Just as fish need water to live, humans require clean air to survive. But if our air becomes unbreathable, who will restore the oxygen? While climate change has already impacted us, political and economic forces are just as significant. These often subtle yet crucial challenges raise fundamental questions about freedom, resistance, and societal norms. At the same time, Fall and Rise of a Fish critically examines how media shapes social narratives and how our perspectives influence them. This brings pressing issues into focus—power and belief, the meaning of individuality, and the increasingly blurred line between what is real and what is artificial.