A South African artist has ‘caught’ all fish names from WoRMS in an impressive artwork, with an environmental message
In January 2015, the WoRMS data management received an unusual request from a South African artist, Craig McClenaghan, who was searching for a full list of the world’s marine fish species.
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Several months later, Craig’s artwork ‘Nett’ was completed and recently exhibited at a small Johannesburg art gallery, Hodgins House. The drawing is comprised of fine hand-written text, and contains all 17,027 species names listed on the WoRMS database. Essentially a checklist, the ambiguous, suggestive imagery generated in this drawing makes a simple, powerful statement about the richness and fragility of the world’s marine environment… simultaneously alluding to shoal, net, and consequence.
Craig has provided a number of images of his artwork, and he has given due credit to both WoRMS and FishBase.
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View larger versions below.
Craig has provided a number of images of his artwork, and he has given due credit to both WoRMS and FishBase.

View larger versions below.