Aromatheque Mediamatic: Feeling with the fishes

Slippery and untouchable from another, submerged world. Fishes. 

Although there are fishes that like to nibble on our skin to eat away our eczema, fishes are not for cuddling.

Until recently it was even doubted whether they could feel at all.. Being cold blooded, hard-scaled, did not suggest them being sensitive, sentient beings. Let alone, attractive to interact with.

But what if we were wrong? What if fish have an emotional life and wish for happiness and a fulfilled life?

Designing animal enclosures for the zoo, Thijs de Zeeuw tries to find out what a meaningful life means for an animal. But his work extends further than the zoo alone. 

Tonight he will come by and discuss his work with the Embassy of the North sea on non-human representation. Can we 'speak on behalf of the eel'? As he tried by designing an Eel-park for the Oosterdok. And can we know how fish know their…