ArtHouse Jersey, in partnership with Creative Island Partnership and Jersey Markets, are welcoming a new public artwork in the Central Market this Saturday 5 April 2025.
The unique ‘Fish Wish – Paîsson d’Pâssion’ installation is the culmination of a Jersey Markets Residency by artists Esther Rose Parkes and Karen Le Roy Harris at Beresford Street Fish Market. The artists transformed the studio into a community space for conversation and workshops.
Both artists share childhood memories of making wishes at the fountain, tossing coins into water filled with colourful goldfish. This sparked the idea of recreating the fountain as a wish-making space for the community. Over the last 12 weeks the artists have invited the public to view the process of making the artwork and have been gathering stories from the market’s diverse community; fishermen, florists, restaurateurs, farmers and visitors. Over 200 wishes were gathered and each one will be carefully woven into the final artwork.
‘Fish Wish – Paîsson d’Pâssion’ is a transformative installation that weaves together the past, present and future of the market through sculpture, sound and community participation. Ropes knotted with the community wishes will form a striking sculptural centerpiece around the fountain. Suspended above will be the origami fish, representing both the dreams of the community and the wishes of the sea creatures, reminding us of our interconnectedness with the natural world. The soundscape of collected stories will resonate within the space, creating an immersive experience of memory, connection, and aspiration.
The wish-granting fish appears in folklore across cultures, symbolising wisdom, transformation, abundance, and resilience. From Jersey folktales like The 13th Fish to the Chinese legend The Carp and the Golden Gate, these mystical creatures have granted wishes, tested desires, and represented perseverance. People have tossed coins into fountains, whispered wishes into the wind, and released fish into water; symbolic acts of letting go and inviting change. Engaging the community in this ritual, the project explores the cultural significance of wishes and what they reveal about our collective hopes and imagination.
Artists Esther Rose Parkes and Karen le Roy Harris, said: “Spending three months in both markets has been a special experience, allowing us to connect with market traders and the wider community. We’ve had so many heartwarming and fascinating conversations, and we hope our work reflects these encounters. We were drawn to this residency because of our childhood memories of making wishes at the fountain, and we wanted to recreate it as a space for the community to once again come together and make wishes. We’ve always loved the market, but this residency has given us a deeper appreciation for its people, stories, and rhythms”.
ArtHouse Jersey’s Head of Programme, James Tyson, said: “It’s been wonderful to bring art to the Jersey Markets through this partnership facilitated between the Creative Island Partnership, Jersey Markets and ArtHouse Jersey and we would like to thank Karen and Esther for their commitment and inspiration in bringing to life their Fish Wish – Paîssion d’Pâssion sculpture through workshops and a welcoming social space at the Fish Market these past few months. We look forward to continuing this partnership to enable further opportunities for inclusive and inspirational art in the town centre.”
