Name: We Swam Amongst The Fishes 4
Brand: Julian Opie
Rating: 5 (231 reviews)

Meaning & Analysis

Following on from the artist’s installation at Sadler’s Wells theatre, London and the Museum of Modern Art, Chicago, Julian Opie created this print, We Swam Amongst The Fishes 4 as part of the series We Swam Amongst The Fishes in 2003. This is a large-scale print showing an image of various species of fish swimming in an open space of water.

Inspired by a trip to Bali, this print is unusual for Opie in terms of subject matter but is representative of the artist’s desire to capture the world around him. Opie invites the viewer to step into the scene that he depicts, showing a view of the water from a diver’s perspective. Paired with the print’s title, the perspective of the diver is also emphasised by the way the fish swim in different directions and some appear to face outwards.

We Swam Amongst The Fishes 4 is notable for its flat blue backdrop that is representative of the sea. The world shown in this image is rendered without subtle detail, with no water reflections or ripples. The artificiality of the scene is reminiscent of videogame aesthetics, typical of Opie’s landscape work from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Opie thus encourages the viewer to step into a stylised representation of the world so as to question how we look at the real world we live in.

Julian Opie, born in 1958, dances through the contemporary art scene with a distinctive digital allure. A trailblazer of the 1980s New British Sculpture movement, Opie's work is a highly stylised blend of Pop Art and minimalism which navigates the intersection of technology and visual expression. From his early experiments with computer-generated art to his iconic portraits and animated installations, Opie's work exudes a captivating simplicity. His signature style, marked by bold lines and reduced forms, is internationally recognisable and has made him a key player in British contemporary art.