ELECTRONIC FISHES

Wolfgang Trettnak

AQUARIUM FINISTERRAE
A Corua July and August 2010
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 Wolfgang Trettnak 2010

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ELECTRONIC FISHES
Wolfgang Trettnak

A CORUA, GALICIA, SPAIN July and August 2010

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THE AUTHOR

Wolfgang Trettnak was born in Graz (Austria) in 1962. At the University of Graz he achieved the degree of a doctor in chemistry. For more than one decade he was working as a scientist at the research and development centre Joanneum Research in Graz in the fields of sensors and biosensors. This period was only interrupted by a one-year postdoctorate at the University of Florence (Italy). Besides his scientific work, Wolfgang Trettnak has been working in the fields of painting and graphics for more than thirty years. He has participated in a large number of international artistic workshops, seminars and courses. Although in his work he utilizes a variety of techniques, he currently prefers acrylics. He has realized individual and group exhibitions in Austria, Italy, Czech Republic and Galicia (Spain). Since many years he has been trying to relate Art and Science in his artistic work. This journey between two different worlds has brought him from bionic visions of the human being and the domestic animals to the ELECTRONIC FISHES. He is living and working in the village of Werndorf in the south of Graz (Austria) and from time to time in Galicia, Spain.

ELECTRONIC FISHES
The result of the fascination, which the sea and the marine world of Galicia have exerted on the Austrian artist Wolfgang Trettnak, is the exhibition ELECTRONIC FISHES. It shows the particular vision of the marine universe of a man from inland, who finds in fishes and other aquatic animals a rich source of inspiration for realizing his works of art, which are dealing with: Electric fishes, which utilize electricity as a means for communication, orientation, localization, courting, hunting or defense Bioluminescent marine organisms, which utilize light for attraction of prey, communication, illumination and camouflage Bionic fishes, which are robots with the shape of a fish and which have got fishes as biological models

The technique used is a mixed one and the paintings, acrylics on canvas, contain electronic components such as curcuit boards, cables, solar panels or light-emitting diodes. The works are accompanied with short scientific explanations on the depicted ideas and, some of them, with culinary notes. The double formation of the author, he is a doctor in chemistry and a painter, have led him to relate Art and Science since many years. To realize this exhibition, he referred himself to his knowledge of luminescence, sensors and bionics. And he inspired himself in the nature of Galicia, its abundance of catch in fishing and the fishes of the Aquarium Finisterrae in A Corua, where he made some of the sketches for his paintings. Finally, and as an anecdotic detail, it has to be mentioned that preparing the exhibition converted itself into an enjoyable journey through the gastronomy of Galicia, since the habitual process consisted of the following steps: visiting the fish shop, studying and drawing the selected fish, cooking and enjoying it as the circumstances demand ... So, octopuses, hake, albacore, John Dory, sardines or rays fell victim to his brushes. This approach has also converted him to an outright ambassador of good Galician cuisine.

Culinary note (18.8.2008):

Sardiada de Sada 5 grilled sardines with maize bread and red wine

Electric communication
Some fishes of South America and Africa use electric signals for their communication within the group and for social purposes, which include the localization of their conspecifics, the determination of their hierarchical position or to obtain a mate.
The Sardiada in Sada [1]

LAS SARDINAS ASADAS DE SADA

Acrylics and electronic components on canvas; 80 x 100 cm; 2008

Culinary note (8.8.2008):

Merluza al horno One hake of 1,5 kg; 3 finely sliced potatoes and a little of olive oil; 20 - 30 min at 250 C in the oven

Electric localization
Some predators, such as sharks or rays, have electroreceptors, which are sensitive to the electric fields, which are produced by other animals. This allows them to detect prey hidden in the sand.
Electroreceptors in a shark head [2]

HAKE WITH SARDINE

Acrylics and electronic components on canvas; 80 x 100 cm; 2008

Culinary note (13.1.2009):

Caldeirada de raya 0,8 kg of ray; cooked with coarse-cut potatoes and onion; dressed with a sauce of olive oil, garlic, a little of onion and paprika

Electric hunting and defense

The electric rays or Torpedinids possess two large electric organs and are capable of realizing potent electric discharges (of up to 220 V) in order to paralyse the prey or to defend themselves.
Electric organs of the electric ray [3]

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ELECTRA
Acrylics and electronic components on canvas; 80 x 100 cm; 2008

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Triggerfish
A kind of blocking mechanism (trigger) allows to keep their first erectable dorsal spine upright. This serves as a protection against predators, which would like to devour them or try to drag them out of their holes.

Electric orientation
Some fishes, such as the elephantfishes, which live in the muddy rivers of Africa, produce electric fields to perceive their environment and to orient themselves in the dark and turbid waters.

Electric fields of an elephantfish [4]

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TRIGGERFISH
Acrylics and electronic components on canvas; 80 x 100 cm; 2008

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Culinary note (31.8.2008):

Pez de San Pedro al horno One John Dory of 1,6 kg; marinaded with olive oil, garlic and parsley; 20 - 30 min at 250 C in the oven

Electric courting
During the period of reproduction, the South American fishes of the order Gymnotiformes produce electric signals for courting. The males and females emit signals of different shape.

Male Female Electric organ discharge of Gymnotiformes [5]

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JOHN DORY
Acrylics and electronic components on canvas; 80 x 100 cm; 2008/2009

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Meat cookies
The cookiecutter shark attaches itself to large fish and marine mammals with the help of its sucker-like mouth. With its teeth it then neatly excises a chunk of flesh with the size and shape of a cookie.

Camouflage by counter-illumination
The small cookiecutter shark is a deep-sea fish, which utilizes bioluminescence for camouflage. The whole surface of its underside is covered with photophores, except for a dark collar around its throat, which serves to attract prey.

Bite scars caused by a cookiecutter shark [6]

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COOKIECUTTER SHARK
Acrylics, solar panel and 24 LEDs on canvas; 81 x 100 cm; 2008/2009

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Fast swimmer
Tuna can travel over large distances and can swim very fast. Some species are capable of speeds of 60 - 80 km/h. The albacore or bonito del norte ( Thunnus alalunga) can reach 65 km/h.

RoboTuna
The RoboTuna is a robotic fish, which has the shape of a tuna and swims like a tuna. Such submarine robots could be used for exploration or surveillance purposes.
The tail of the RoboTuna [7]

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THE TURBOBONITO
Acrylics, solar panel, electric motor and propeller on canvas; 81 x 100 cm; 2008/2009

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Flashlight fish
The tropical flashlight fish have bioluminescent organs situated beneath their eyes. They are equipped with a mechanism to regulate the amount of light emitted or to hide or flash their lights. The light is produced by bacteria and is used for communication and to attract prey.

Flashlight fish [8]

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FLASHLIGHT FISH
Acrylics, solar panel, 3 LEDs and other materials on canvas; 81 x 100 cm; 2008/2009

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A famous jellyfish
The jellyfish Aequorea victoria can emit green light (bioluminescence) via the photoprotein aequorin and the now famous green fluorescent protein (GFP).

Scientific note:
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2008 For the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), which is an important tool for biological studies and research.

Structure of the green fluorescent protein [9]

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VICTORIA
Acrylics, solar panel and 24 LEDs on canvas; 80 x 100 cm; 2008/2009

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Culinary note (24.1.2009):

Salpicn de rape One cooked monkfish (3,1 kg); once chilled, cut into small pieces; dressed with a sauce of hard-boiled eggs, chopped onion, parsley, olive oil and vinegar

Bioluminescent lures
The deep-sea anglerfish of the order Lophiiformes are predators. To attract prey they are equipped with bioluminescent lures. The light is produced by bacteria and can be turned on and off.
Bioluminescent bacteria ( Leuchtlabor GbR) [10]

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ENCOUNTER OF TWO DEEP-SEA FISH

Acrylics, 2 solar panels and 2 LEDs on canvas; 81 x 100 cm; 2008/2009

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High intelligence
The octopus is considered the invertebrate with the highest intelligence. Its brain is of big scientific interest, since its evolution was very different from that of the human brain.

Masters of camouflage
The octopus is capable of instantaneously changing the colour, the pattern and the texture of its skin. This serves for perfectly mimicking its surrounding, for signalling and for communication.
The brain of the octopus [11]

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OCTOPUS
Acrylics and electronic components on canvas; 81 x 100 cm; 2009

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A living battery
The electric organs of the electric eel occupy large parts of its body with thousands of cells (electrocytes), which are connected in series and in parallel.

High voltage
The electric eels of the rivers Amazonas and Orinoco utilize electric signals of low voltage (10 V) for the localization of prey and for communication. For hunting and defense they can produce shocks of up to 600 V and 1 A of current.
The electric eel anatomy [12]

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ELECTROPHORUS ELCTRICUS
Acrylics and electronic components on canvas; 80 x 100 cm; 2009

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[13]

Bionic fishes
There exists a large number of robots, which are based on fishes and other marine organisms as models: carp, barracudas, tuna, pike, rays, jellyfish, penguins, turtles ... The characteristics, which are imitated are, among others, the form and constitution of the body, the mode of propulsion, the structure of the skin and the sensory organs.
[14]

[14]

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BIONIC FISH RACE

Acrylics, electronic components and other materials on canvas; 81 x 100 cm; 2009/2010

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Sparkling cephalopods
The firefly squid (Watasenia scintillans) has photophores, which can emit light, in large parts of its body. It can light up all its body in the mating season or just flash its tentacles to attract prey such as little fish.

A luminous catch
Every year millions of the little firefly squid appear in the Bay of Toyama in Japan for spawning. They create an incredible light show, when they are caught.
Container with firefly squid [15]

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FIREFLY SQUID (1)

Acrylics and 100 LEDs on canvas; external solar panel; 80 x 100 cm; 2009/2010

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FIREFLY SQUID (2)

Acrylics and 100 LEDs on canvas; external solar panel; 80 x 100 cm; 2009/2010

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EXHIBITIONS OF THE AUTHOR ON ART AND SCIENCE

2009 2008 2008 2007 2007 2006 2005 2004 Peces electrnicos Kunst & Wissenschaft Kunst & Wissenschaft Electronics & Flowers The bionic man - Parque Elico Experimental SOTAVENTO, Xermade, Lugo, Galicia - Berufsfrderungsinstitut Steiermark, Graz, Austria - Montanuniversitt Leoben, Leoben, Austria - Stadtbibliothek Graz, Graz, Austria - Digital Art Gallery, European Culture Golden House, Budweis, Chequia

Der bionische Mensch - Montanuniversitt Leoben, Leoben, Austria Personale di pittura High-Tech-Steirer - Galleria Polo Scientifico, Universit degli Studi di Firenze, Florencia, Italia - Bildungszentrum Raiffeisenhof, Graz, Austria

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REFERENCES TO THE ILLUSTRATIONS

1 2 3 4 5 Sada, Sardiada, 2008 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electroreceptors_in_a_sharks_head.svg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elektroplax_Rochen.gif Active electrolocation of objects in weakly electric fish, G. v. d. Emde, The Journal of Experimental Biology 202, 1205-1215 (1999). Comunicacin elctrica en peces sudamericanos del orden gymnotiformes, O. Macadar y A. Silva, Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologa 2007, volumen 39, N 1, 31-45. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cookiecutter_damage.jpg Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( Cambridge, MA); http://web.mit.edu/towtank/ www/Tuna/tuna.html Boris Chomski; http://www.lebendes-licht.de/ http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:GFP_structure.png Leuchtlabor GbR; http://www.leuchtlabor.de/ http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/iphy4480tsai/Lecture26.html Daniel Zukovski, Yale University; http://patapsco.nist.gov/ImageGallery/ details.cfm?imageid=584 http://www.rutgersprep.org/kendall/7thgrade/cycleD_2009_10/kn/KIKI_carp_fish2.html (Ryomei Eng. Robocarp) http://www.festo.com http://pinktentacle.com/2006/04/tourists-bask-in-blue-glow-of-firefly-squid/

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INFORMATION
Dr. Wolfgang Trettnak Rmerweg 2 A-8402 Werndorf Austria wolfgang.trettnak@aon.at www.trettnak.com
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www.trettnak.com

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