‘The Art of Tickling Trout
& Other Sensual Pleasures’ 2003-

This humorous and suggestive installation explores some of the unconcious desires and motivations beneath the handling and controlling of animals.

The video 'soften' investigates trout tickling, an old and apparently sensuous poaching technique which involves an act of hypnotic predation by seduction.

Delving further into a catalogue of intimate flirtations, she explores many other fishy, cheeky and humourous activities that include making babies, getting the horn, sensual quivering and apparently spontaneous jumping for joy.

These intense vignettes frame a variety of mythical and commonplace interactions and offer provocative readings of these extraordinary behaviours.

Juxtaposing each of the carefully framed activities with the trappings and tackle of animal paraphernalia,
the installation drew out some of the unconscious motivations and roles they perform to evoke both humorous and suggestive readings.

"Each short video vignette brings us closer to what is hidden and repressed, framing a whole secret world of unspoken sexuality and pleasure in the rituals and customs of rural and domestic animal husbandry"

See more:
Fish Tales
Furry Tales
Booklet
Rosettes

Acknoledgements
Charlie Murphy produced this work at ArtSway as part of the Navvy Gate residency scheme supported by the Regional Arts Lottery Programme through Southern and South East Arts from 2002-3.

Charlie would like to thank;
Mark Segal, Ali Fowler, Melinda and Andy McChene, Rob, Handbag, Neil, Vic, Dave, James & Sally Murray, Simon and Carol Austin, Sophie Dobell & staff of The Reptile Centre, The Forestry Commision, Jacko of Prime TV, The Blacks for loan of their harness paraphanalia and rosettes, Andy from Scats Batchelor & Shaun at New Forest Carp centre and all the other people and organisations who helped and supported this work.