Nemo’s games

canvas, underwater painting

30×40
2019

N/A

Whatever you say, the clownfish, nicknamed Nemo after the famous cartoon – is one of the most charming sea creatures. I spent three dives working on this painting, and altogether I devoted at least forty dives to them.

Nemo fish can be found at each fifth of my underwater paintings. The clownfish are usually orange, red, or black with a distinctive white stripe. Their behavior reminds me of a child’s game, something between playing tag, hopscotch, and hide-and-seek. They swim away as if teasing us with their bright colors and defiantly wagging their tail. Then they quickly hide in the house, which is a poisonous anemone, by the way.

Interestingly, when the clownfish takes over a new anemone, it allows the anemone to sting it a little to determine the composition of the poison. Then it produces exactly the same slime, which anemone uses to protect itself from its poison. After that it starts to have fun in all possible ways, teasing other fish.

P.S. Underwater artist Olga Belka thanks the Anantara group and especially the Anantara Dhugu resort in the Maldives for hospitality, full assistance, and support, as well as the Aquafanatics dive center for safety and the best diving conditions when creating this underwater artwork.