On Display: A Twenty-First Century Salon des Refusés

Tuna Christ

There must be space for risk in art.

Object contributed by Carmen Alcocer

Originally created by Carmen Alcocer

Assistance collecting this object by On Display at Tulane

About the Work

Tuna Christ is a collage bearing the dimensions of a bluefin tuna, wounded by fishing lures. The viewer is invited to gently pull the lures to reveal ribbons bearing Bible verses referencing fish. Tuna Christ is not intended as a mockery; instead, I wanted to use this allegory to prompt the viewer to examine how they perceive and interact with their own beliefs. Traditional gallery spaces viewed the interactive nature of this piece, alongside its fragility, as a risk. But there must be space for risk in art, and openness to the change that human interaction can create.

About the Artist

Carmen Alcocer is a senior studying Studio Art, Art History, and Latin American Studies. Much of her art explores connections between corporatism, desire, and self-definition, and how consumer culture can serve as a vehicle for human connection and expression.

Tuna Christ

More about this item

Dublin Core

Categories
Recycled Material, Steel, Upholstery, Fishing lures, Glitter, Ribbon, Politics
Title
Tuna Christ
Artist
Carmen Alcocer
Artist
Carmen Alcocer
Date
2024
Medium
Recycled material, steel, upholstery, fishing lures, glitter, ribbon
Short Description
There must be space for risk in art.
Tags
On Display Curatorial Team
On Display at Tulane
On Display: A Twenty-First Century Salon des Refusés

On Display: A 21st-Century Salon des Refusés

On Display: A 21st-Century Salon des Refusés revisits the concept of rejection and expands upon it, challenging what art “deserves” to be exhibited.

On Display: A 21st-Century Salon des Refusés, 2025. DigitalArc Jekyll Theme by Kalani Craig is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Framework: Foundation 6.