My fish wishes she was Gehry's fish.

Written by: Iraj Yamin-Esfsndiary

Sixteen years ago when I was working on the design of a Japanese sushi restaurant I sported the idea of a colorful fish welcoming guests at the opening. So I designed and sculpted an eighteen feet long fish with layers of panels made of color paper and supporting sticks of bamboo so light that could be hung from the ceiling by invisible fishing string. A string of paper chain connected these panels so the fish would be animated while the restaurant was operating. Since the air blown to the room by air condition unit would cause the panels dancing together harmoniously in the air like sails of a sailboat. No one including myself could believe that the fish would last more than few months. Five years later when I visited the restaurant she was still there floating in the air. However my fish were not as lucky as Frank Gehry’s fish to become a celebrity being known and liked by many.