Cuban artist Yoan Capote uses various types of media to create visually challenging pieces. This project Isla (Seascape) is a 26-foot wide piece constructed of oil, nails, and approximately 500,000 fishhooks. According to the artist, the piece took about 6 months to construct along with the help of 30 assistants. From a distance, the peaceful seascape is a calm and soothing experience, but as the viewer draws closer, the power and aggression of the thousands of intertwined hooks provides a whole new experience.
When asked about why he chooses to use fishhooks in his work, Capote said, “I decided to use fishhooks in this series because I wanted to create a tension between beauty and seduction and danger and entrapment.” As the perceptions are challenged, the viewer experiences an unexpected excitement that results from the massive, unending seascape combined with the energy of the thousands of hooks.
